Zahawi calls for St George's Day holiday

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A Tory MP has called for St George's Day to be made a bank holiday in England, and St David's Day to be a holiday in Wales.

However, the government raised concerns about the cost to business of Nadhim Zahawi's private members' bill.

"To many, St George’s Day is a celebration of all that is great about our nation," he said.

"At the last election, every major party vowed to promote national integration and social cohesion.

"A national day celebrated by all, regardless of their background or heritage, would only help that process.

"As the secretary of state for education has said, we must all encourage our children to learn about our nation’s past, the bad and the good, and we must celebrate our shared history.

"What better way to do that than a national day, officially recognised by the government?"

Zahawi told the House that St George is "not uniquely Christian", as he is "the only Christian saint to appear in the Koran and the only saint to have a mosque bearing his name".

"Yes, the fringe right may well have hijacked our symbol of patriotism, which should sadden all of us in the chamber, but today in the House we can go a long way towards reclaiming it."

Greg Knight (Con, East Yorkshire) said the bill could prove divisive.

"In clause 1, he tells us that the Welsh but not the English can celebrate St David’s Day and that the English, but not the Welsh, can celebrate St George’s Day.

"Is it not a nationalist measure that is likely to increase friction between England and Wales, rather than a Unionist policy, as I want, because I support the union?"

Zahawi pointed out that the Irish and Scottish already celebrate their national saint's day.

Johnathan Edwards (Plaid, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) said the bill would "address a grave injustice".

"The Scots can celebrate St Andrew, the Irish in the north of Ireland can celebrate St Patrick, but the English cannot celebrate St George, and, of course, in Wales we cannot celebrate St David," he said.

"I want to put it on the record that the entire Welsh nation strongly supports the bill."

Business minister John Hayes said the culture department is consulting on the possiblity of moving the May bank holiday.

"One suggestion is that it might be moved to St George's Day or St David's Day," he told the House.

"That consultation will give everyone an opportunity to have a proper debate."

However, he warned that the House should be mindful of the costs to business of an additional bank holiday.

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