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Minister in 'British day blunder' Minister in 'British day blunder'
(41 minutes later)
Minister Liam Byrne has been accused of a "glaring gaffe" over his choice of date for an annual "British day".Minister Liam Byrne has been accused of a "glaring gaffe" over his choice of date for an annual "British day".
Mr Byrne said the August Bank Holiday weekend was the best choice to celebrate Britain's national identity as it was "already a bank holiday".Mr Byrne said the August Bank Holiday weekend was the best choice to celebrate Britain's national identity as it was "already a bank holiday".
But the SNP said Mr Byrne had neglected one key fact - the August bank holiday is held on a different day in Scotland than it is in England and Wales.But the SNP said Mr Byrne had neglected one key fact - the August bank holiday is held on a different day in Scotland than it is in England and Wales.
SNP MP Angus Robertson said Mr Byrne's plan had "fallen at the first hurdle".SNP MP Angus Robertson said Mr Byrne's plan had "fallen at the first hurdle".
Mr Robertson, who leads the party's MPs at Westminster, said: "That glaring gaffe aside, Liam Byrne's proposal has nothing to do with Britishness, and everything to do with bolstering Gordon Brown as Labour's support evaporates in swing English regions.Mr Robertson, who leads the party's MPs at Westminster, said: "That glaring gaffe aside, Liam Byrne's proposal has nothing to do with Britishness, and everything to do with bolstering Gordon Brown as Labour's support evaporates in swing English regions.
"Labour's cack-handed attempts to resuscitate a British 'national' identity are just desperate, motivated by self interest rather than national interest.""Labour's cack-handed attempts to resuscitate a British 'national' identity are just desperate, motivated by self interest rather than national interest."
Street partiesStreet parties
Scotland's bank holiday is on 4 August, while in England and Wales it is held on 25 August. The last Monday in August is not a statutory bank holiday in Scotland as it is in England and Wales.
Scotland has a bank holiday on the first Monday in August, but public holidays are set by local authorities, based on local tradition.
It is a great idea to have a day celebrating Britishness, but it would be a shame that millions of people will potentially miss out TUC spokesmanIt is a great idea to have a day celebrating Britishness, but it would be a shame that millions of people will potentially miss out TUC spokesman
Mr 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.Mr 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. 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".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." "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.But, he will add, there was widespread disagreement on what it might involve - from street parties to discussions - and when it should be held.
"I myself have become convinced that the August bank holiday weekend - what some have called 'the great British weekend' - has the virtue of being in the summer, and already being a bank holiday. "I myself have become convinced that the August Bank Holiday weekend - what some have called 'the great British weekend' - has the virtue of being in the summer, and already being a bank holiday.
"There are other arguments for linking something to the Remembrance Sunday or another apposite date in the Autumn." "There are other arguments for linking something to the Remembrance Sunday or another apposite date in the autumn."
'Music festivals''Music festivals'
Mr Byrne's proposals have also come under fire from the trade unions, who are campaigning for a new national holiday in October.Mr Byrne's proposals have also come under fire from the trade unions, who are campaigning for a new national holiday in October.
The TUC said a day of national celebration was a "great idea" - but a spokesman said it risked being stillborn if it was held on an existing public holiday such as the August bank holiday.The TUC said a day of national celebration was a "great idea" - but a spokesman said it risked being stillborn if it was held on an existing public holiday such as the August bank holiday.
"It is a great idea to have a day celebrating Britishness, but it would be a shame that millions of people will potentially miss out as they will already have made plans to take part in other events."It is a great idea to have a day celebrating Britishness, but it would be a shame that millions of people will potentially miss out as they will already have made plans to take part in other events.
"We think it would be a lot more effective if they introduced a new bank holiday."We think it would be a lot more effective if they introduced a new bank holiday.
"People already have an idea what the August Bank Holiday means - it is the Notting Hill Carnival, or the music festivals.""People already have an idea what the August Bank Holiday means - it is the Notting Hill Carnival, or the music festivals."
He called on the government to be "a bit more ambitious and bring in a new bank holiday that everyone can enjoy".He called on the government to be "a bit more ambitious and bring in a new bank holiday that everyone can enjoy".
The TUC is campaigning for a new bank holiday in late October, to break the run of 16 weeks without a holiday between August and Christmas.The TUC is campaigning for a new bank holiday in late October, to break the run of 16 weeks without a holiday between August and Christmas.
The spokesman said Britain had the second lowest number of public holidays in Europe - and he rejected claims by the Confederation of British Industry that a new holiday would cost £6bn in lost production.The spokesman said Britain had the second lowest number of public holidays in Europe - and he rejected claims by the Confederation of British Industry that a new holiday would cost £6bn in lost production.
As an advanced industrial nation, Britain could "easily afford it" and that it would generate income for many firms, he argued. As an advanced industrial nation, Britain could "easily afford it" and it would generate income for many firms, he argued.