MP calls for St. Georges Day Holiday

Date published: 05 August 2005

MP's have been calling for St George’s Day to be made a public holiday in England, as done in both Ireland and Scotland with St. Patrick's Day and St Andrew's Day. Rochdale MP Paul Rowen  signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) along with 34 other MP’s,  from all three major parties.   

Paul Rowen MP said: "Rochdale is such a tolerant place that enthusiastically celebrates its diversity, whether it be Eid, St Patrick's Day, the Chinese New Year or any other celebration.  The Irish have St Patrick’s Day as a public holiday, the Scots have St Andrew’s day as a public holiday, and I think England should have St George’s Day as a public holiday."

Paul said, "I think this country should come into line with the rest of Britain and Ireland and celebrate our saints day with a Public Holiday.  We should make more of St George's Day - making it a Public Holiday will certainly be a great move.  I know that last year's celebrations were a great success - there was a marvellous concert at the Gracie Fields Theatre with classics like Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem and the St George's Flag was flying outside Rochdale Town Hall.  I think that people in Rochdale should start to think of ideas of how we can celebrate April 23rd."