§ Mr. David Atkinson (Bournemouth, East)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the discontinuation of the May day bank holiday and to establish a Peace and Freedom day bank holiday on the Monday nearest to Victory in Europe day, 8 May.Eight weeks ago, the entire nation commemorated the final collapse of the Third Reich and celebrated the 50th anniversary of victory in Europe. The events that took place over that splendid weekend in May were astonishingly successful in bringing back the excitement and relief that was originally felt following six of the longest and toughest years in our country's history.To those of us who were born too late to have played a part in the war, VE day gave us an opportunity to give thanks to those who offered their lives in defence of freedom. Younger generations, perhaps for the first time, became aware of the magnificent achievement of this country as Europe's last bastion against Nazidom, wholly alone for nearly two years after the fall of France, until Germany invaded Russia, and America joined us after Pearl harbour.
Throughout all the events during the VE day celebrations, the portrayal of our royal family was for ever present, and rightly so, because of its tremendous inspiration to all our people throughout the entire war. Equally dominating was the portrayal of Winston Churchill as the one man above all others who symbolised as well as led our country's resistance, from our darkest days to our finest hours.
It was inevitable that, after the celebrations were over, it was said that VE day would never again be commemorated and remembered in such a way; that, as those who took part in the war depart, so will all memories of their achievements dim, and for future generations will be merely the stuff of history books.
The purpose of my Bill therefore is to ensure that the significance and achievements of VE day will never be forgotten. The establishment of a clearly designated bank holiday in our calendar to commemorate the triumph of peace and freedom over tyranny, and its importance to Europe and the world, will remind this country annually and permanently of the crucial part that Britain played.
Many hon. Members, including you yourself, Madam Speaker, will recall a previous attempt to introduce such a bank holiday eight years ago, on 24 March 1987, by our former colleague, Stefan Terlezki. He called it the Winston Churchill National day. The House voted for it by 160 to 80, and there was every reason to believe that it could have been passed into law but for the general election three months later.
To reintroduce Stefan's Bill was precisely what I had in mind today, inspired by the events of two months ago, when so many of us in the House came together in Westminster Hall with our families to participate in the historic, unique and, above all, British ceremony as both Houses presented their humble addresses to Her Majesty.
But on further thought, I do not think that Winston Churchill would have wanted such a day solely to commemorate his name. As he himself so nobly and modestly said: 385
It fell to me in those days to express the sentiments and resolves of the British nation in that supreme crisis of its life. That was to me an honour far beyond any dreams or ambitions I had ever nursed, and it is one that cannot be taken away.Churchill's personal reputation and his "walk with destiny", as he put it, first as the prophet and then as the leader against Hitler, will always be bound up with the general reputation of that war as the crusade against evil that it was, in which patriotism was not enough. Such a day to commemorate peace and freedom in Europe would always be associated with Winston Churchill, just as his portrayal and presence dominated the 50th anniversary events just two months ago.My proposal for the actual date of the bank holiday to be the Monday closest to VE day, 8 May, is also symbolic in other appropriate ways: it is close to the day when Winston Churchill became Prime Minister, 10 May 1940, when the nation faced a very bleak future indeed; and it is close to the same day a year later when this very Chamber, the greatest symbol of freedom and democracy, was destroyed by German bombs.
It is also the day before Europe day, 9 May, which is celebrated throughout the European Union to mark the day in 1950 when Robert Schuman called on the people of Europe to rally together for a common cause, in which cultural diversity is respected and solidarity proclaimed.
Having, I hope, persuaded the House to support the establishment of such a bank holiday permanently to commemorate VE day, I should now explain why I propose that it should replace the May day bank holiday the previous week. I should stress to Opposition Members that I have no great prejudice against a bank holiday to commemorate Labour day. Indeed, as a Roman Catholic I am encouraged to celebrate it myself as St Joseph the Worker's day—the day of St Joseph the carpenter, the stepfather of Jesus. I consider it rather unfortunate, however, that in recent years May day has become too associated with the massive demonstration of the communist war machine in Red square, overlooked by Soviet leaders on the Kremlin wall.
Certainly the origin of May day is no part of British history—or European history, for that matter. As our former colleague Dave Nellist reminded the House when speaking against Stefan Terlezki's Bill, the original May day was 1 May 1886, when 350,000 workers downed tools in more than 11,000 establishments in America in a demand for an eight-hour day, which led to the first general strike in American history. Workers and police died in the violence that followed. Since then, 1 May has evolved into an international expression of workers' solidarity, and a bank holiday to commemorate it was introduced in 1978 by the Labour Government.
I suggest that a peace and freedom day bank holiday to replace the May day bank holiday would epitomise all the rights and freedoms, including the freedom of trade unions, that the liberation of Europe and the re-establishment of democracy and the rule of law in western Europe has guaranteed and protected—thanks largely to British leadership and British courage. Indeed, only recently the Council of Europe's social charter—which, along with the European convention on human rights and the European Court of Human Rights, was a consequence of victory in Europe—has been extended to include new categories of rights for workers.
386 Finally, there are good practical arguments in favour of a bank holiday a week later than May day. It would be welcomed by industry, especially the tourist industry, as being that much further away from the Easter bank holiday weekend. It would apply equally in Scotland: we know from early-day motion 871 of the problems that this year's VE day holiday—which was not a bank holiday in Scotland—imposed on that country.
For all those good reasons, I ask the leave of the House to bring in my Bill, as a permanent reminder to the people of this country—and generations to come—of the successful outcome of the finest chapter in our British history, and the part played by our royal family, Winston Churchill as leader of a coalition Government, all the people of Britain, our allies and the Commonwealth in the restoration of peace and freedom to Europe and the world 50 years ago.
§ Mr. Mike Watson (Glasgow, Central)I oppose the motion—which I have only just spotted on the Order Paper—not simply because May day happens to be the day on which I was born, but for much more serious reasons.
Despite the jingoism that we have heard from the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson), this is a vengeful and petty proposal, designed as a further attack on organised labour by Conservative Members. I am sure that no Opposition Member would oppose the establishment of a special holiday to commemorate VE day, and I am sure that a holiday to commemorate VJ day would be equally justified; but that is not the point of the proposal.
Over the past 15 or 16 years, Conservative Members have lost no opportunity to attack organised labour in any form. My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) recently pointed out that, for some bizarre reasons that may eventually become clear, the Department of Employment is to be abolished.
The May day holiday, however, is a fine tradition. I accept that, as the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East said, it resulted from an industrial dispute in, I believe, San Francisco in 1888, but it goes back far further than that. I understand that it goes back far further in English traditions, with which, for obvious reasons, I am not particularly familiar. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman should have washed his face more carefully in the morning dew on May day before thinking up this ill-considered proposal.
Not only Opposition Members oppose the idea. The hon. Gentleman failed to mention that, when the right hon. Member for Norfolk, South-West (Mrs. Shephard), as Secretary of State for Employment, suggested abolishing May day, the CBI was against the proposal, because it saw no need for change. Apparently, employers' organisations believe that there is no need for any change. We know that some of this country's worst employers sit on the Conservative Benches. That may partly explain why such proposals continually come forward.
The May day tradition goes back hundreds of years. In this country, it goes back about 100 years as a proud labour movement tradition in many regions. I and many other hon. Members participate in May day rallies and parades, which are family and fun days. They recall the labour movement's history but, equally, they look forward as well. They are enjoyed by thousands of people. To suggest that that should be taken away is, at best, mean-minded and, at worst, insulting to the people who enjoy it.
387 May day is a day of working-class tradition in many communities, even those where heavy industries that had developed in the past 100 years have virtually ceased to exist. On that day, people still proudly parade their banners and remember their forefathers and foremothers.
It is important to make the point that the Bill is not just about May day. Its proposal that we should have a specific peace and freedom day in place of May day is equally insulting to the millions of people who took part in world wars in this century. Who fought hardest of all to achieve peace and freedom in the 1914–18 and 1939–45 wars? For obvious reasons, many people who fought in those wars have proud traditions in the labour movement and were happy to commemorate VE and VJ days as much as they commemorate May day.
If the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East really wishes us to have a VE day holiday, let us consider the possibility of creating an additional holiday. Before he falls off his seat by suggesting that that would cost industry millions of pounds and would be unworkable, let us compare the holidays in the UK with those in other European Union member countries. Let us start by comparing the holidays of the UK. The hon. Gentleman's constituents in Bournemouth have nine public holidays a year, My constituents in Scotland have 10, and the constituents of Northern Ireland Members have 11. Already, therefore, the public holidays position needs to be addressed.
Throughout the European Union, nine member countries have more public holidays than we do, and only two have fewer public holidays: the Netherlands and Denmark. Those are the only two European countries that do not have May day as a public holiday. Plenty of scope exists, therefore, for the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends to introduce a VE day, and, as I said, a VJ day, holiday and still to remain in a position that is not out line with the majority of European Union member countries by retaining the May day holiday.
The Bill is a thinly veiled attack on this country's organised labour, and its proud traditions going back many years. Opposition Members will not tolerate it, and I suggest that, when the Bill goes to the vote, the House will not tolerate it either.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 19 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of public business):—
§ The House divided: Ayes 79, Noes 155.
389| Division No. 198] | [3.52 pm |
| AYES | |
| Alexander, Richard | Colvin, Michael |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby) | Congdon, David |
| Alton, David | Cope, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Cormack, Sir Patrick |
| Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E) | Day, Stephen |
| Booth, Hartley | Duncan-Smith, Iain |
| Bottomley, Peter (Eltham) | Evennett, David |
| Bowden, Sir Andrew | Foster, Don (Bath) |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes | Gorman, Mrs Teresa |
| Bruce, Ian (Dorset) | Gorst, Sir John |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Grant, Sir A (SW Cambs) |
| Budgen, Nicholas | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
| Butterfill, John | Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N) |
| Carrington, Matthew | Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) |
| Cash, William | Harris, David |
| Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey | Harvey, Nick |
| Hawkins, Nick | Sims, Roger |
| Hawksley, Warren | Spring, Richard |
| Hunter, Andrew | Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Jackson, Robert (Wantage) | Steen, Anthony |
| Jenkin, Bernard | Stern, Michael |
| Jessel, Toby | Sweeney, Walter |
| Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine | Thomason, Roy |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N) |
| Lawrence, Sir Ivan | Thornton, Sir Malcolm |
| Lynne, Ms Liz | Thurham, Peter |
| McLoughlin, Patrick | Townsend, Cyril D (Bexl'yh'th) |
| Marshall, John (Hendon S) | Tracey, Richard |
| Mitchell, Sir David (NW Hants) | Tredinnick, David |
| Moate, Sir Roger | Tyler, Paul |
| Viggers, Peter | |
| Montgomery, Sir Fergus | Walker, Bill (N Tayside) |
| Neubert, Sir Michael | Wallace, James |
| Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Waterson, Nigel |
| Pawsey, James | Wilkinson, John |
| Porter, David (Waveney) | Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton) |
| Rathbone, Tim | Winterton, Nicholas (Macc'f'ld) |
| Riddick, Graham | |
| Robathan, Andrew | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn | Lady Olga Maitland and |
| Shaw, David (Dover) | Mr. Michael Fabricant. |
| NOES | |
| Ainger, Nick | Gerrard, Neil |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Godman, Dr Norman A |
| Ashton, Joe | Godsiff, Roger |
| Barnes, Harry | Golding, Mrs Llin |
| Bayley, Hugh | Graham, Thomas |
| Beggs, Roy | Grant, Bernie (Tottenham) |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Grocott, Bruce |
| Bermingham, Gerald | Gunnell, John |
| Berry, Roger | Hall, Mike |
| Betts, Clive | Harman, Ms Harriet |
| Blunkett, David | Hill, Keith (Streatham) |
| Bradley, Keith | Hinchliffe, David |
| Burden, Richard | Home Robertson, John |
| Byers, Stephen | Hood, Jimmy |
| Campbell-Savours, D N | Hoon, Geoffrey |
| Canavan, Dennis | Howarth, George Knowsley North) |
| Chisholm, Malcolm | Hoyle, Doug |
| Clapham, Michael | Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) |
| Clark, Dr David (South Shields) | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Clarke, Eric (Midlothian) | Hughes, Roy (Newport E) |
| Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) | Hutton, John |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Ingram, Adam |
| Coffey, Ann | Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H) |
| Cohen, Harry | Janner, Greville |
| Connarty, Michael | Jones, Ieuan Wyn (Ynys Môn) |
| Corbett, Robin | Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) |
| Corbyn, Jeremy | Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald |
| Corston, Jean | Keen, Alan |
| Cummings, John | Kennedy, Jane (L'pool Br'dg'n) |
| Cunliffe, Lawrence | Khabra, Piara S |
| Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE) | Kilfoyle, Peter |
| Dalyell, Tam | Lestor, Joan (Eccles) |
| Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral) | Lewis, Terry |
| Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) | Liddell, Mrs Helen |
| Denham, John | Litherland, Robert |
| Dewar, Donald | Livingstone, Ken |
| Dixon, Don | Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) |
| Donohoe, Brian H | Llwyd, Elfyn |
| Dunnachie, Jimmy | Loyden, Eddie |
| Eagle, Ms Angela | McAllion, John |
| Eastham, Ken | McAvoy, Thomas |
| Etherington, Bill | McCartney, Robert |
| Fisher, Mark | McFall, John |
| Flynn, Paul | McKelvey, William |
| Forsythe, Clifford (S Antrim) | Mackinlay, Andrew |
| Foster, Rt Hon Derek | McMaster, Gordon |
| Gapes, Mike | MacShane, Denis |
| Garrett, John | Marek, Dr John |
| Marshall, David (Shettleston) | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| Marshall, Jim (Leicester, S) | Rowlands, Ted |
| Martin, Michael J (Springburn) | Salmond, Alex |
| Maxton, John | Sedgemore, Brian |
| Meale, Alan | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
| Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) | Simpson, Alan |
| Milburn, Alan | Skinner, Dennis |
| Morgan, Rhodri | Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) |
| Morley, Elliot | Spearing, Nigel |
| Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wy'nshawe) | Spellar, John |
| Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley) | Squire, Rachel (Dunfermline W) |
| Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon) | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Mowlam, Marjorie | Straw, Jack |
| Mudie, George | Sutcliffe, Gerry |
| Mullin, Chris | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| Murphy, Paul | Timms, Stephen |
| Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon | Tipping, Paddy |
| O'Brien, Mike (N W'kshire) | Touhig, Don |
| O'Brien, William (Normanton) | Trimble, David |
| Olner, Bill | Turner, Dennis |
| Orme, Rt Hon Stanley | Vaz, Keith |
| Parry, Robert | Watson, Mike |
| Pickthall, Colin | Wicks, Malcolm |
| Pike, Peter L | Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Sw'n W) |
| Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) | Wilson, Brian |
| Purchase, Ken | Wise, Audrey |
| Randall, Stuart | Wright, Dr Tony |
| Reid, Dr John | Young, David (Bolton SE) |
| Robinson, Peter (Belfast E) | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Roche, Mrs Barbara | Mr. Tony Banks and |
| Rooker, Jeff | Mr. David Winnick. |
§ Question Accordingly negatived.