Rochdale MP calls for St George's Day Public Holiday!

3.01.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th Aug 2005

Rochdale MP calls for St George's Day Public Holiday!

Rochdale Liberal Democrat MP Paul Rowen has signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for St George's Day to be made a public holiday in England. 34 MP's, including MP's from all three major parties have signed the EDM.

Paul Rowen MP, "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."