Brown drops ‘Britishness’ day

GORDON Brown has abandoned his plans for a national British day in yet another embarrassing U-turn.

PATRIOTISM Labour U turn PATRIOTISM: Labour U-turn

He conducted a personal crusade for a holiday to mark the country’s traditions and gave it extra impetus once he became Prime Minister.

But critics argued public displays of nationalism were the very opposite of what it meant to be British and the plan was dogged by ridicule.

A written answer to MPs slipped out by the Government last week revealed it has shelved the idea.

A Home Office pamphlet earlier showed one suggestion on how to mark the day was to “drink”.

It was one of 27 tips which also included “appreciating the weather” and morris dancing.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: “First a national motto, then an oath of allegiance, now a patriotic day – one token initiative after another in Gordon Brown’s Britishness agenda has sunk without trace.

“Labour still hasn’t worked out that British identity is bound up in our institutions, culture and history.

“It can’t be re-manufactured by their spin doctors.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “Displays of nationalism never were the British way.”

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