A significant update has been released in response to demands for St George’s Day to become an official Bank Holiday.
St George’s Day has been acknowledged in England since the 9th century and evolved into a prominent feast and national holiday by the 15th century. Presently, children are educated about the Patron Saint of England in schools.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn proposed in 2017 that the UK should have four new Bank Holidays – one for each patron saint of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Various initiatives have advocated for St George’s Day to be designated an official Bank Holiday. An archived petition on the government’s website points out the existing Bank Holidays for St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day, emphasizing that England has fewer holidays compared to other European nations.
In 2024, when questioned about the policy, then-Opposition Leader Keir Starmer mentioned that a new Bank Holiday for St George’s Day might not be feasible due to economic considerations. Then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also refrained from committing to the idea.
Sir Keir expressed to the BBC that while a Bank Holiday would be desirable, the focus should be on progressing the country economically. He emphasized the need for a government dedicated to national service and a decade of national revival to fulfill the promise of St George’s Day.
This week, a government spokesperson informed the Express that introducing a one-off extra Bank Holiday, similar to the one for the King’s Coronation in 2023, would cost approximately £2 billion for the UK. Consequently, there are currently no intentions to alter the date of April 23 to a Bank Holiday.
The spokesperson clarified that although all patron saints are celebrated with pride, the current arrangement of bank and public holidays is well-established, and there are no immediate plans for modifications.
