A government spokesperson has provided an update on the possibility of making St George's Day an official bank holiday in England, confirming that there are currently no plans to change the status of April 23. The statement comes amid renewed public interest and political debate surrounding the celebration of England's patron saint.
Historical Context of St George's Day
St George's Day has been observed in England since the 9th century, evolving into a major feast and national holiday during the 15th century. Today, children learn about St George in schools, and the day is marked by various cultural events and festivities.
Previous Campaigns for a Bank Holiday
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn proposed in 2017 that the UK should introduce four new bank holidays, one for each patron saint of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A petition on the government's website argued that St Patrick's Day has been a bank holiday in Northern Ireland for a century, and St Andrew's Day was recently made a bank holiday in Scotland, while England has only eight bank holidays per year, fewer than most European countries.
In 2024, then-leader of the opposition Keir Starmer stated that a new bank holiday for St George's Day would not be feasible due to the state of the economy. Then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also declined to commit to the idea. Starmer told the BBC: "A bank holiday would be very nice, but I think that, with the economy where it is at the moment, we have to celebrate in and around the work that we're doing, because we need to absolutely take our country forward."
Government's Current Position
This week, a government spokesperson informed the Express that the cost of a one-off extra bank holiday, similar to the one created for the King's Coronation in 2023, would be approximately £2 billion for the UK. Consequently, there are no plans to change April 23 into a bank holiday. The spokesperson stated: "While we are proud to celebrate all of our patron saints, the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established, and we have no plans to change it."
The announcement underscores the government's focus on economic considerations, despite ongoing public support for an additional day off to honour St George.
