Brexiteer calls for bank holiday to be moved for June 23 ‘independence day’
Brexiteer former MEP Patrick O'Flynn has called for a national holiday on June 23. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Archive/PA Images - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
A former UKIP spokesman has endorsed the idea of a national holiday to celebrate what Leave supporters are describing as 'independence day'.
Journalist and former MEP Patrick O'Flynn - who defected to the Social Democratic Party in 2018 - called for June 23 to become a bank holiday after a Twitter poll proved popular.
He retweeted a poll, which asked if there should be a bank holiday marking the UK's departure, adding: "My feeling is that June 23rd should become our annual Independence Day bank holiday (or the Mon after it should in years when that date falls on a Sat or Sun). Scrap the late spring bank holiday at the end of May if need be."
The poll was started by Twitter user @GavinBrexit and garnered 91% positive replies to the question: "Should we have [a] bank holiday for our departure from the sinking EU?"
Despite O'Flynn's suggestion of moving the end of May bank holiday, some replies suggested scrapping the May 1 holiday, described by one commenter as "a commie holiday".
You may also want to watch:
O'Flynn left UKIP in protest at far-right activist Tommy Robinson being appointed an adviser to party leader Gerard Batten.
In 2019, he stood as the SDP candidate in the Peterborough by-election, securing 0.4% of the vote with 135 votes.
Most Read
- 1 Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid reject Boris Johnson's coronavirus claim
- 2 Nigel Farage reminded of claim that 'acid test of Brexit' surrounds fishing after clip resurfaces
- 3 Sky News presenter says Boris Johnson is 'gaslighting the nation' over Covid claims
- 4 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 5 PMQs: Boris Johnson calls for apology from Keir Starmer over coronavirus stances
- 6 Home Office launches voluntary repatriation scheme for EU nationals
- 7 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 8 Jeremy Corbyn loses bid to release Labour documents ahead of High Court battle
- 9 Boris Johnson is the 'worst PM' and should resign, says Alastair Campbell
- 10 Nicola Sturgeon tells Boris Johnson to 'work from home' instead as he plans trip to Scotland
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
