Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con)

- Hansard -

I am grateful, Madam Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to present this petition. There are no fewer than 2,481 signatures on a petition urging the Government to consider making St George’s day a public holiday. I am grateful to the company, George’s Tradition, which is an award-winning fish and chip chain based in Erewash and surrounding constituencies, which has collated the petition.

England is one of the few countries without a public holiday for its patron saint. Indeed, the House will be aware that in Northern Ireland, St Patrick’s day is a public holiday, and in Scotland, St Andrew’s day is a voluntary bank holiday. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a country’s traditions and heritage. I cannot let the petition pass—

Jessica Lee

- Hansard -

I shall do so. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Turning to the prayer, the petition states:

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward proposals to make St George's Day a public holiday in England.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The Petition of residents of the Erewash constituency and others,

Declares that England is one of very few countries in the world that does not have a public holiday to celebrate its national day; notes that St Patrick's Day is bank holiday in Northern Ireland, and that St Andrew's Day is a voluntary public holiday in Scotland; and further declares that everyone who is part of England should be able to celebrate its traditions, its history, its heritage and the English way of life with a public holiday on St George's Day.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward proposals to make St George's Day a public holiday in England.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.]

[P000839]