Debate over a British Independence Day observed in the United Kingdom

The debate over a British Independence Day observed in the United Kingdom concerns the cross-party calls by British politicians and general public appeals for the Brexit referendum result on the 23 June 2016 to be recognised as 'Independence Day' and be made a national holiday in the United Kingdom. On 29 June 2016 an online petition on the UK Parliament government website calling for 23 June to be "designated as Independence Day, and celebrated annually" reached over 20,000 signatories. As obliged, the government responded, stating there were "no current plans to create another public holiday."^[1] Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, claimed that "tempting though that might be, I think the idea of an independence day would face fierce competition from the likes of St George's Day, Trafalgar Day and many more."^[2]

There were several rejected petitions, due to similarity, including one that proposed to "celebrate British independence from the EU with an annual national holiday."^[3]

Support

• Godfrey Bloom TD, former MEP, on 4 July stated "Happy Independence Day to all my American chums, I now know how it feels" in reference to a British independence day.^[4]
• John R. Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, in relation to US "Independence Day" and "Brexit", claimed "we should celebrate our ally reclaiming its sovereignty".^[5] On 24 June 2016, in his article for The Boston Globe, he further stated "we should welcome Britain’s departure from the EU. Happy Independence Day!".^[6]
• Douglas Carswell MEP, in his article titled "Britain’s Coming Independence Day" for The New York Times, stated that "America celebrates its independence on July 4. In years to come, Britons may celebrate ours on June 23."^[7] On 25 April 2016, he stated on his official website "let's make June 23rd a real independence day".^[8]
• James Delingpole, columnist, writing for Breitbart News on 23 June, stated "Britain's Independence Day is here" and that the "British people sensed the momentousness of the occasion".^[9]
• Kevin Dowd, economist, writing for the Independent Institute, claimed "Thursday, 23 June 2016, will go down in history as the United Kingdom’s own Independence Day."^[10]
• Bill Etheridge, West Midlands MEP, said "June 23 was a momentous day in our history" and that "our country [...] will be sovereign once more and to celebrate that I believe June 23 should be an annual Independence Day bank holiday."^[11]
• Nigel Farage, UKIP MEP, stated "let June 23rd go down in our history as our Independence Day",^[12][13] and that it "must now be made a national holiday."^[14]
• Matthew Gagnon, writer and political strategist, declared; "Happy Independence Day, Great Britain", adding that the "British people have decided they would like that control back", with reference to Brexit.^[15]
• Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary, declared 23 June can be "Britain's independence day" in a debate in front of a 6000-member audience at Wembley Arena.^[16]
• Andrea Leadsom, MP and 2016 Conservation leader candidate, on 20 June 2016 said "I look forward to celebrating our Independence Day with you all."^[17] After the Brexit result, she expressed a "Huge congratulations on our Independence Day" to the British public.^[18]
• Paul Nuttall, UKIP leader, on 28 April 2016 publicly addressed U.S. President Barack Obama, stating; "Don't try to block our Independence day, Mr Obama".^[19] On 23 June 2016, Nuttall claimed "This is Independence Day!" with reference to the Brexit result being announced.^[20]
• Mark Reckless, former Member of Parliament, "saluted the achievement" of a British "Independence Day".^[21]
• WND, on the morning of the Brexit result, reported "it's Independence Day for Great Britain" and that "immigration policies set by the EU were a major concern of those favoring independence."^[22]

Opposition

• Yasmin Ahmed, columnist for the The Independent, claimed "using the rhetoric of 'Independence Day' is deeply insensitive" and that "calling for a British Independence Day is wounding to all nations that revolted and fought hard against British colonial rule."^[23]
• David Cameron, British Prime Minister on 22 June 2016, when asked to comment by BBC Breakfast on Boris Johnson's "Britain's Independence Day" stated; “the idea that our country isn’t independent is nonsense. This whole debate demonstrates our sovereignty.”^[24]
• Ruby Hamad, columnist at Daily Life Australia, insisted people should not "call Brexit the UK's 'Independence Day'" and that "this is Britain throwing an epic tantrum at the mere prospect of having to share the spoils of its plundering past."^[25]
• Alex Hudson, deputy editor of Metro UK, said of the Brexit result "this is not the UK’s version of Independence Day, it’s the exact opposite."^[26]
• Sam Lewis-Hargreave, journalist and researcher, claimed that "even if [...] we do consider celebrating this day in the future" that the "23rd June was absolutely not the UK’s Independence Day."^[27]
• John Oliver, English comedian and political commentator, speaking on his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, stated that "Britian was already independent, in fact, it's what many other countries celebrate their independence from."^[28]
• The Observer editorial, on 26 June 2016, came out strongly against the idea of an independence day, suggesting that Nigel Farage's "declaration of a historic independence day was as fatuous as it was embarrassing. He and friends ran an often scurrilous and dishonest campaign."^[29]
• Robin Walker MP in October 2016 formally debated a petition calling for the annual observance of a British Independence Day in the United Kingdom. Arguing against the annual observance, he stated that "it's very hard to commit to June 23 over its many rivals. Unfortunately it's just too costly."^[2]

Neutral

• Paul Scully MP declared that "one of the petitions calls for designating 23 June independence day and celebrating it annually" in a chamber debate with Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP, Margaret Ritchie MP, Stephen Doughty MP and others.^[30]

References