Welsh call for St David's bank holiday falls on deaf ears - Burnham

10.24.00am GMT Tue 27th Feb 2007

11,034 people signed the UK Government online petition to make St David's Day a welsh national holiday

Eleanor Burnham AM has slammed the UK government for it's refusal to listen to Welsh calls to make St David's Day a national holiday.

Over 11,000 people called upon the UK government to make St David's Day a national bank holiday as is currently the case with St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have already committed to demanding the Assembly powers necessary to make St David's Day a national holiday in Wales.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Culture and Assembly Member for North Wales, said: "I'm disgusted that the Prime Minister's response has simply shrugged off the strength of feeling that we should celebrate the life of Dewi Sant with a national bank holiday here in Wales.

"You have to wonder at the real reason behind this disappointment. In Scotland they celebrate Hogmanay with a bank holiday, and Northern Ireland celebrates St Patrick on a national holiday.

"In the response to the petition the UK government told Wales that we already choose to celebrate Dewi Sant "in a way they consider more suitable" than a bank holiday. But what could be more suitable than allowing everybody in Wales the chance to celebrate their national identity and culture on a day dedicated to St David?

"The Labour government in Westminster ignored the first calls of Wales' representatives 8 years ago when they asked for a bank holiday to celebrate Wales' patron saint. Now they are ignoring a clear message from over 11,000 Welsh people - give us a day to celebrate our pride in the culture, language and history of Wales."

Notes/nodiadau:

The UK government has posted an online response to a petition signed by 11,034 people calling for St David's Day (1st March) to be made a national bank holiday in Wales.

Details of the response are available online at:

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11078.asp

Ends/diwedd