English bosses support St. George's Day bank holiday

July 9, 2011 - PRLog -- The UK government are consulting the public on moving the May Day bank holiday to either St. George's Day (23 April) or Trafalgar Day/UK Day (October).

The government's preferred date is October. They claim company owners and Directors in England are against the idea of a bank holiday in April, they state the concentration of bank holidays in March and April is bad for commerce and the economy.

The St. George Unofficial Bank Holiday (St George UBH), a pressure group that campaigns for greater recognition of St. George's Day and a bank holiday on 23 April, decided to contact bosses in England and ask their opinion. They asked 3 questions:

1) Will you lose business if all companies in England have a bank holiday on 23 April?
2) What effect will a bank holiday on St. George's Day have on staff morale?
3) As a parent or Uncle/Aunt are you concerned about the demise of English culture, heritage and values if we don't have a day of celebration?

The results may be disappointing for the UK government as many were strongly in favour of moving the May Day bank holiday to St. George's Day. Graham Smith, Campaign Organiser for St George UBH, is not surprised. "The government forgets that in the evening and weekends bosses are parents, aunts and uncles. They are as concerned as the rest of us about the erosion of English culture and heritage."

One example of the passion English bosses have for St. George's Day comes from Chris Houghton, Managing Director of Eventura in Blackburn, he already gives his staff a day off work on 23 April. He believes it has a positive effect on staff morale, "It's brilliant. We have all colours, creeds and faiths and St. George's Day is a celebration of being one - English."

A selection of comments from 12 company owners and Directors are available on the St. George UBH website, go to http://www.stgeorgesholiday.com/bosses

Graham is also critical of the government's proposal of Trafalgar Day or a UK Day. "Trafalgar Day celebrates a British rather than an English victory, and Lord Nelson was having an affair with a married woman and fiercely opposed the abolition of slavery. Perhaps not an ideal icon for modern England."

On the subject of a UK Day he is also sceptical, "It's difficult to envisage many Catholics in Northern Ireland wanting to celebrate UK Day and wave Union Jacks. I also think there will be limited celebrations in Scotland particularly as the SNP are calling for Scottish independence."

The St. George UBH have sent their findings to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport as part of the government's pre-consultation on moving the May Day bank holiday.

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The St. George Unofficial Bank Holiday is a group of unpaid volunteers who campaign for greater recognition of St. George's Day in England and a national bank holiday on 23 April.

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