A huge St George’s Cross, believed to be the largest display of the flag in the UK, has been unveiled with the local council vowing to "continue to fly it with pride" for England's national day.
The 60-foot-long flag, displayed on Nottingham's Council House in Old Market Square, was unveiled to mark the city's annual St George's Day celebrations with what is believed to be believed to be the biggest St George’s Cross on display in the country as it covers most of the historic building.
Celebrated on April 23 every year, Council leader Councillor Neghat Khan said: "Nottingham’s 60-foot flag has become a regular fixture in the city to celebrate St George’s Day to celebrate English culture, heritage, and national identity.” It comes after, during this week's Prime Minister's Question Time, the Labour MP asked Sir Keir Starmer: "Tomorrow is Saint George's Day.
“Does my right honourable friend agree with me that now more than ever, we need to tell the story, the positive story of Englishness, founded in who we are?" In response, Sir Keir replied: "We do celebrate Saint George's Day.
“We fly our flag. We celebrate this country's values of service, generosity and respect. They, Mr Speaker, are English values, which is why I love this country so much."
The Government has, however, dismissed calls to make St George's Day a new bank holiday. Latest estimates reveal that the cost would be around £2billion for the UK, mirroring the costs for the 2023 bank holiday to mark the King’s Coronation.
"While we are proud to celebrate all of our patron saints, the current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established, and we have no plans to change it," a Government spokesman said.
A YouGov poll found that nearly 60 per cent of Britons believe that St George's Day should be a bank holiday in England, with festivities which can last for days. Many English people are still bemused as to why St George’s Day acknowledgement and celebrations are not on par with St. Patrick’s Day, St. David’s Day and St. Andrews Day.