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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron 'proud to be British and English' | David Cameron 'proud to be British and English' |
| (3 days later) | |
| David Cameron has said he is "proud" to be both English and British as he marks St George's Day. | David Cameron has said he is "proud" to be both English and British as he marks St George's Day. |
| The prime minister sent his "best wishes" to people marking the celebration of England's patron saint. | The prime minister sent his "best wishes" to people marking the celebration of England's patron saint. |
| But he added that it was important for the United Kingdom to remain a "family of nations", saying they would be stronger together than apart. | But he added that it was important for the United Kingdom to remain a "family of nations", saying they would be stronger together than apart. |
| A poll suggests nearly three-quarters of English people want St George's Day to be a public holiday. | A poll suggests nearly three-quarters of English people want St George's Day to be a public holiday. |
| The date, 23 April, is also said to be the anniversary of the death of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare. | The date, 23 April, is also said to be the anniversary of the death of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare. |
| In a message, Mr Cameron said: "I send my best wishes to everyone celebrating St George's Day today. | In a message, Mr Cameron said: "I send my best wishes to everyone celebrating St George's Day today. |
| "I think it's great that in recent years it has become more and more popular to mark St George's Day. | "I think it's great that in recent years it has become more and more popular to mark St George's Day. |
| 'Special day' | 'Special day' |
| "I'm very proud to be English and I think it is important that people in England can celebrate St George's Day, just as other nations of the United Kingdom celebrate their patron saints' days. | "I'm very proud to be English and I think it is important that people in England can celebrate St George's Day, just as other nations of the United Kingdom celebrate their patron saints' days. |
| "Today, England's national symbol - the flag of St George - will fly high over Downing Street, just as it will over public buildings, churches and schools all across England." | "Today, England's national symbol - the flag of St George - will fly high over Downing Street, just as it will over public buildings, churches and schools all across England." |
| Mr Cameron added: "But as those of us in England mark this special day, so we also remain just as proud to be part of the United Kingdom - a family of nations that will always be stronger together than they ever would be apart." | Mr Cameron added: "But as those of us in England mark this special day, so we also remain just as proud to be part of the United Kingdom - a family of nations that will always be stronger together than they ever would be apart." |
| His comments come as Scotland prepares to hold a referendum in September 2014 on independence from the rest of the UK. | His comments come as Scotland prepares to hold a referendum in September 2014 on independence from the rest of the UK. |
| Polling by YouGov for the IPPR think tank and Cardiff and Edinburgh Universities found 73% of English people wanted St George's Day to be a public holiday. | Polling by YouGov for the IPPR think tank and Cardiff and Edinburgh Universities found 73% of English people wanted St George's Day to be a public holiday. |
| And nearly two in five people living in England said they considered themselves to be "equally English and British". | And nearly two in five people living in England said they considered themselves to be "equally English and British". |
| The proportion who regarded themselves as "more English than British" or "English not British" was 35%, compared with 17% who said they were "more British than English" or "British not English". | The proportion who regarded themselves as "more English than British" or "English not British" was 35%, compared with 17% who said they were "more British than English" or "British not English". |
| YouGov surveyed 3,600 English adults online between 23 and 28 November last year. The results were weighted to represent all English adults. | YouGov surveyed 3,600 English adults online between 23 and 28 November last year. The results were weighted to represent all English adults. |