A petition on the Parliamentary website has called for the introduction of a new bank holiday in July 2027, but only for England. The proposed holiday would mark the 1100th anniversary of the birth of England as a unified kingdom.
Petition Details
The petition, created by Derek Hilling, urges the Labour Party government to designate Monday, 12 July 2027 as a bank holiday in England. It closes on 11 September 2026. The petition states: "Make Monday 12th July 2027 a bank holiday in England to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the birth of England, so that all the people of England celebrate this occasion. The Government should also support organising celebrations for that day."
Historical Significance
The petition highlights that the meeting arranged by King Athelstan on 12 July 927 at Eamotum in Cumbria represents the original unification of the English people. After this date, King Athelstan styled himself as Rex Anglorum, or King of the English. The petition argues that creating a bank holiday would recognize this significant day in England's history and allow most people in England to join in the celebrations.
Government Response Thresholds
The government states that if the petition gets 10,000 signatures, it will respond. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. Currently, the early May and late May bank holidays are followed by another bank holiday in August, with further days off around Christmas.
