Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Matthew Dresch & Ashley Cowburn

Tory MP calls for national 'Elizabeth Day' bank holiday in memory of Queen

A senior Tory MP has called for a bank holiday to be named as "Elizabeth Day" in honour of Her Majesty.

Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, said the gesture would recognise the monarch's "lifetime service" to her country.

An online petition to make September 8 - the date of the Queen's death - a permanent "Queen Elizabeth Day" bank holiday has also attracted almost 140,000 signatures.

It comes as the eyes of the world focus on Britain ahead of the Queen's funeral in Westminster Abbey tomorrow.

Mr Ellwood tweeted: "In recognition of the late Queen's incredible lifetime service to the nation I believe it would be a fitting tribute to proclaim one of our bank holidays 'Elizabeth Day'."

The Queen is lying in state in Westminster Hall before her funeral tomorrow (via REUTERS)

He later clarified that he wanted this to be a renamed bank holiday, rather than a new one.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also backed the "brilliant idea" of a new "Elizabeth Day".

He told the Express: "We would want all the countries of the United Kingdom to celebrate on the same day.

"I would hope it would be a joyful celebration, as she would want it, of all the things she represented in her life - her love of country, her ability to bring people together, her decency, her kindness, her sense of fun."

It comes as mourners were keeping up their spirits by singing together and sharing cakes as the queued to see the Queen lying in state.

Tobias Ellwood has called for a bank holiday to be named "Elizabeth Day" (Getty Images)

Many gained new friends, including Martyn and Samantha Young, from Buckingham, who queued through the night with their children Rhys, 11, and Tyler, 10, waiting 14 hours.

Asked how they did it, Martyn, 39, joked: “With lots of coffee and sugar. And chatting with everyone.

“It was a long night, but the spirit was really good and there was no pushing or shoving."

Brits queued for hours to see the Queen lying in state (Getty Images)

Samantha, 38, said: “It was a lovely atmosphere. The boys had about 20 minutes sleep on a bench at one point and sometimes looked as though they were falling asleep standing up. But I’m glad we did it.

“It felt massively emotional to see the coffin, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of history.”

Angela Parker, 46, and her sister Joanne Brennon, 43, got a train from Liverpool before arriving at the back of the queue in Southwark Park at around 11am yesterday.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.