A day of respect so we
Smith is leading the charge in Westminster for the annual day devoted to the Queen’s honour. An online petition in support of a new “Elizabeth Day” has already been backed by more than 138,000 people.
Sir Iain has lobbied Downing St to support what he describes as a “brilliant idea” and will rally cross-party support when MPS return to Parliament this week after the Queen’s funeral.
He said: “We would want all the countries of the United Kingdom to celebrate on the same day. I would hope it would be a joyful celebration, as she would want it, of all the things she represented in her life – her love of her country, her ability to bring people together, her decency, her kindness and her sense of fun.
“All of these things could be commemorated on one day of the year.”
Historian and broadcaster Dan Snow gave his backing, saying: “This is a chance to mark our history and help define our future. We haven’t always been great as a country at celebrating what binds us together. This is a moment to change that and create a day that will represent the principles of togetherness and service that Her Majesty personified.”
An Elizabeth Day could be used to teach new generations about the achievements of her reign, and also to stage the type of street parties that brought communities together during the Platinum Jubilee celeSupport for the day has also come from Tobias Ellwood, the chairman of the Commons defence committee, who successfully campaigned for the tower which houses Big Ben to be named the Elizabeth Tower to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
He said: “The day would be a permanent reminder of our gratitude for an incredible reign and dedicated life of service.”
The initiative has also won cross-party support. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said: “We should continue to pay tribute to the Queen, our longest-reigning monarch, and ensure her selflessness and commitment to service remains an inspiration.
“An annual day of love and celebration is the least she deserves and I would fully support it.”
Rother Valley Conservative Alexander Stafford said that a dedicated day would be a time that “we can all use to reflect on her amazing reign”.
There are calls for a new bank holiday but there is also support for naming an existing one in her honour. Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, is at the forefront of a campaign for a new “Thank Holiday”.
Mr Cox, who co-founded the Together Coalition which works to build a “kinder society”, said: “The Queen brought our country together throughout her life.there can be no more fitting tribute than to create a day in her honour that continues her legacy of connecting us all and reminding us of what we have in common.”
Earlier this year, UK Hospitality and the Confederation of British Industry backed a campaign to make the Queen’s one-off Platinum Jubilee bank holibrations.