The government hasn’t given up on plans to compell us to celebrate our Britishness. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne:
is due to make the case for the August Bank Holiday to be a national British day in a wide ranging speech on national identity to New Labour think tank Progress.
The immigration minister will say a “clear majority of people” support the idea of a national day of celebration, based upon his own discussions with voters in recent months.
He will tell Progress there is a “strong sense that the time is right for Britain as a country to do more to celebrate the things we have in common”.
“And one way to do this is a day or two of celebration of what we like and love about living in this country,” he will say.
But, he will add, there was widespread disagreement on what it might involve – from street parties to discussions* – and when it should be held.
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