Cry `God for Harry, England and Saint George'

HERE we are again. Another St George's Day tomorrow but apart from some token flag raising over 10 Downing Street, the patron saint of England will be all but ignored by government and the nation. Ministers who make the right noises by rejoycing in public at St Patrick, St David, and St Andrew remain eerily silent at poor old St George, as if they they were embarrassed at the mere mention of his name.

Yes, Gordon Brown will fly the flag of St George over 10 Downing Street tomorrow, believed to be the first time in recent memory that the red-and-white banner has been raised over Downing Street on St George's Day.

Mr Brown is encouraging all UK Government buildings in England which have two flagpoles to fly the English national flag alongside the Union flag tomorrow. 

This time last year, I wrote a blog St George for an English Parliament (http://www.eadt.co.uk/cs_eadt/cs/blogs/dines_days/archive/2007/04/20/925796.aspx)

To date, it remains the most read of all I have published and has received more comments than any other posting. There is a latent resentment at how England and the English are treated. One day it will explode and I hope against hope that it will not be the British National Party which become the beneficiaires.

The English National Party is valiantly flying the flag for England's patron saint, but they're in danger of being swamped by the revial of the Conservative Party. Would that some MPs would take up the cause.

So it's a pleasure to report that millionaire David Haythornthwaite is allowing his 120 employees a paid extra holiday, because he believes the day should be celebrated by the English.

"Every time you read the the newspapers they say we should celebrate St George's Day and it should be a public holiday," he said. "Unfortunately nobody does anything about it, I decided to do something and give all of our staff, maybe more firms will think about it."

Mr Haythornthwaite is chairman and founder of the Tangerine Group, based in Lytham St Anne's, which makes pet health food and other animal products. His employees, including some Polish workers, will get the day off, costing his business £35,000.

Mr Haythornthwaite, a member of the Royal Society of St George, which celebrates all things English, has promised to give staff every St George's Day off from now on.

And he hopes his gesture will encourage others.