By George we think they've got it

By George we think they've got it
Apr 9 2006
By Phil Doherty,
The Sunday Sun

A Sunday Sun survey has revealed the vast majority of North councils will be flying the flag for St George to celebrate our patron saint's day.

It is a triumph for our Let's Have It off campaign which is calling for April 23 to be made into a public holiday and for more recognition of the special day.

We say that St George's Day should be a time to celebrate Englishness in our multicultural society . . . while it will also get us in line with our EU partners who have on average 10.8 public holidays compared to just eight here.

In all, 30 county, unitary and district authorities in the North responded to our survey. Of those, 23 said they would be flying the flag. Of the rest, four said they did not have a flag or a flag pole, one said its flag pole had been vandalised while two - Easington and Derwentside both in County Durham - said they were not obliged to.

However, the overwhelming message was one of support.

Daniel Paul, of Gateahead Council, summed up the mood. He said: "Gateshead Council is very proud of the religious and cultural diversity of the borough and is committed to respecting culturally significant dates for all our residents, one of which is St George's Day.

"Raising the flag is a mark of respect to the patron Saint of our country."

St George's Day marks the date in AD303 when our patron saint was beheaded for protesting against the persecution of the Christians.

It was declared a holiday in his honour in England in 1222, and remained one for English Catholics during the 17th and 18th century, but it was lost after the Protestant reformation.

We launched our campaign around four years ago and since then have gained massive local and national support. Earlier this year, Chancellor Gordon Brown called for a national day of patriotism to celebrate British history.

However, his suggestion that it should take place on Remembrance Sunday was criticised, with calls for it to take place on St George's Day.

Who's raising their standards
County Councils
Cumbria: Yes
North Yorkshire: Yes
Northumberland: Yes
Durham: Yes

Unitary Authorities
Hartlepool: Yes
Redcar and Cleveland: Yes
Middlesbrough: Yes
Sunderland City: Yes
Gateshead: Yes
Darlington: Yes
York City: Yes
Stockton: Yes
North Tyneside: Yes
South Tyneside: Yes
Newcastle: Yes

District Councils
Alnwick: Yes
Carlisle City: Yes
Wear Valley: Yes
Castle Morpeth: Yes
Copeland: No (No flag)
Richmondshire: No (No flag pole)
Berwick: No (No flag pole)
Selby: No (Flag pole vandalised)
Scarborough: Yes
Blyth: Yes
Tynedale: Yes
Easington: No
Harrogate: No (No flag)
Derwentside: No
Durham City: Yes (But the Union Flag)