Government Confirms No Extra Bank Holiday for 80th WW2 Anniversary

The government has announced that it is not planning any additional bank holidays next year to commemorate 80 years since the conclusion of World War Two. Previously, The Daily Express reported that ministers were considering extra days off to observe Victory in Europe (VE) Day or Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, both from 1945. However, Downing Street has now confirmed that these plans are not proceeding. The prime minister’s spokesperson informed reporters that the government intends to utilize the existing early May bank holiday, scheduled for 5 May, for commemorative events. They also added that last month’s Budget confirmed £10m in funding for events to mark VE and VJ Day next year. In the UK, VE Day on 8 May signifies the Allies’ formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945, bringing an end to fighting in Europe. The surrender of Imperial Japan on VJ Day, which concluded the war a few months later, is commemorated on 15 August. The 80th anniversary of both days next year has been described as the last significant milestone that surviving WW2 veterans will be able to personally participate in. The Express had suggested options to mark the occasion, including days off on 9 and 12 May for nationwide celebrations over a long weekend, or adding another bank holiday on 22 August to extend the summer bank holiday to a four-day break. However, the PM’s spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday that the government’s plans “do not include an additional bank holiday.” They stated, “We we will look to use the existing May Day bank holiday for commemorative events.” The spokesperson further added, “We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately which is why we have announced more than £10m to mark them.” They also noted that there was always an “important balance to be struck” when considering requests for extra bank holidays, given the “impacts for businesses, services and the broader economy which need to be taken into account.” For the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020, the early May bank holiday, traditionally observed on a Monday, was moved back four days to create a three-day weekend for commemorative events. The holiday was also changed from 1 May to 8 May to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WW2 in Europe in 1995. Last year, an additional bank holiday was created on 8 May to mark the coronation of King Charles two days earlier. In 2022, there were two additional bank holidays: one to mark the day of the late Queen’s funeral, and another for the Platinum Jubilee, which created a four-day weekend for commemorative events in early June. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.