Sir Ed Davey has urged the Government to create a new bank holiday commemorating England’s 1,100th birthday in 2027.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, the Liberal Democrat leader said: “I certainly think the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England absolutely deserves a bank holiday.
“I think it’s really important that the mainstream debate reclaims patriotism around our history.
“This is the evidence of how long we go back and our proud history. And I think true patriots would want that bank holiday.
Athelstan was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to his death in 939.
He was the son of King Edward the Elder and his first wife, Ecgwynn.
Ed Davey called for the bank holiday
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PAModern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the “greatest Anglo-Saxon kings”.
Alex Burghart, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, agreed it was an important event and said “We will all be celebrating hard.
“I’m not sure that Athelstan will want us to take a day off work, but I hope that everyone around the country gets the chance to raise a glass to his late majesty.”
Labour MP Peter Swallow said: “I’ll certainly be drinking to Athelstan. I think I’ll get in trouble if I commit to a new bank holiday with you right now.
Athelstan is considered to be the first King of England
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“But look, I think it is important that we celebrate these important moments of English and British history. Well, they raised it.”
A Government spokesman responded: “As anyone who listens to the rest of this history knows, there are any number of significant events in our history we would love to mark with a bank holiday, but we can’t do them all.
“So I hope Athelstan doesn’t appear as a ghost of Christmas past to haunt us.”
July 12 is England’s birthday, and in 2027 England will be 1,100 years old.
Mr Davey has repeatedly called for additional bank holidays to mark major national moments.
He previously urged the Government to introduce a bank holiday should England win Euro 2024 in July, as well as to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day in April 2025.
Mr Davey has argued that extra bank holidays would give the country a chance to celebrate historic events and honour veterans.
However, the Government has so far declined the proposals, citing the economic cost of introducing further days off work.