Trade calls for St George's Day celebration

Trade campaigners have hit out at London Mayor Ken Livingston over his failure to support St George's Day celebrations.

Mr Livingston spent a reported £100,000 on events surrounding this year's St Patrick's Day, Ireland's national day, including a concert in Trafalgar Square.

But he has so far rejected requests for similar funding for events to celebrate England's national day, St George's Day, on April 23.

Bedford brewer Charles Wells, which has been running a series of initiatives based around its Bombardier ale brand to try and raise the profile of St George's Day, says Mr Livingston's actions are "galling".

Spokeswoman Sarah McGhie said: "He is supporting the Irish minority with £100,000, which is good news for pubs and their customers obviously, but it is really quite galling when the English majority is getting no support for St George's Day.

"St Patrick's Day is a massive event already so you have to ask if the money wouldn't be better spent supporting another national day."

Charles Wells last year set up a petition asking for St George's Day to be marked with a bank holiday and gathered support from 68,000 people.

This year the regional brewer is raising awareness of the issue again and promoting "Englishness" with plans for an English national anthem to rival God Save the Queen. The idea has already won some high profile support including singer Billy Bragg who said he wanted to help write it.

Licensees are being urged to join the campaign by submitting requests for licence extensions to mark the event. Some pubs have already been granted a one hour extension but magistrates' attitudes remain inconsistent.

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