The UK could get a new permanent Bank Holiday to thank the Queen for her ‘extraordinary service’ under plans to be considered by the government.
Campaigners are calling for this year’s special June 3 bank holiday for her Platinum Jubilee - being held in all four UK nations - to be made permanent.
That would raise the number of bank holidays in England and Wales from the current eight to nine.
Now Chancellor Rishi Sunak has agreed to look at the costs and benefits of the proposal.
Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, have swung behind the idea, reports claim. But today Downing Street poured cold water on the idea of a bank holiday, warning the cost the economy £2bn a time on average.
The PM's official spokesman said. “Each bank holiday presents a considerable and significant cost to our economy”. He said the June 3 holiday this year was "unique" and "we should recognise the impact it has on the wider economy”.
He added: “I’m not aware of any plans to make it permanent but obviously we keep the cost of these things under review.”
Estimates last gathered in 2010 wildly differed on the cost of a bank holiday, with unions estimating £1bn, government £2.9bn and the CBI £6bn.
But the move is backed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Hospitality UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury and others.
Nine bank holidays would still leave the UK with fewer than Austria, France, Norway, Italy and Denmark.
Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour pledged to add four new bank holidays to the UK calendar, one for each patron saint of the four nations.
Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden is among those backing the ‘Thank Holiday’ plan, saying it could give Britain “a social and economic stimulus we need after a difficult few years".
Campaigner Brendan Cox added: “Public holidays are nice to have - but they can also have a purpose. The UK has been bad at building rituals that bind us.”
A report also said Downing Street had asked the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to carry out a review of the matter.
It cited a source as saying: "The Treasury is not saying no off the bat despite previously being institutionally allergic to the idea of a new bank holiday.
"Rishi is supportive of the campaign and the thought behind it and has asked for all the projected costs."
It came as a legal order, passed yesterday, said pubs will stay open into the early hours when Brits celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June.
Punters across England and Wales will be able to stay out until 1am each night from Thursday June 2 through to Saturday June 4 to mark the Queen’s 70th anniversary of service.
The changed licensing hours will only apply to venues that have already been granted permission to serve booze until 11pm.
Ministers have already promised Brits a show in time for the Queen's celebrations that will combine “ceremonial splendour” with “technological displays”.
The Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday 4 June will involve "some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars" and be broadcast by the BBC.
Individual members of the royal family attending have yet to be named but it is likely the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the monarchy will attend the show.
The Royal Family has also launched a 'Platinum Pudding' competition for people to submit their recipes - as happened for coronation chicken.
