St George's Day Bank Holiday update issued – 'We are proud to celebrate'

St George's Day Bank Holiday update issued – 'We are proud to celebrate'A government spokesperson has issued an update over the prospect of making St George's Day an official Bank Holiday - England is set to celebrate its Patron Saint tomorrowCommentsNewsAlex Evans Deputy Audience Editor and Ethan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead09:35, 22 Apr 2026Updated 09:40, 22 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesSt George's Day is tomorrow (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)A major update has been issued following calls to make St George's Day an official Bank Holiday.‌St George's Day was first recognised in England as early as the 9th century. It became a major feast and national holiday in the 15th century, and now children learn about the Patron Saint of England in schools.‌Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn suggested the UK should get four new Bank Holidays back in 2017 - one for each patron saint of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.‌There have been other campaigns for it to be made an official Bank Holiday too. A now-archived petition on the government's website argues: "St Patrick's Day has been a Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland for 100 years, St Andrew's Day was recently made a bank holiday in Scotland... England gets only eight bank holidays a year, fewer than most European countries."View 2 ImagesSt George's Day is celebrated on April 23(Image: Getty Images)‌READ MORE: UK weather maps show 26C heat surge as 74 counties face scorcher – full listREAD MORE: Aer Lingus 'to cancel hundreds of flights' as major UK airports impactedAsked about the policy in 2024, then-leader of the opposition Keir Starmer said a new Bank Holiday for St George's Day would not be possible due to 'the economy', while then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to commit to one either.Sir Keir told BBC at the time: "A Bank Holiday would be very nice but I think that, with the economy where it is at the moment...