The Labour Party’s Twitter account uploaded a post wishing followers a happy St George’s Day this morning, despite the fact the day to remember the saint is actually tomorrow on April 23. The party used the tweet to attempt to gain more of a following by listing all the bank holidays they would introduce along with one of St George’s Day, before prompting others to “share the news”. The tweet read: “Happy St George’s Day! With the next Labour government, we’ll celebrate the patron saint with a bank holiday – and bank holidays for St Patrick, St David and St Andrew too. Sound good? Share the news.”
They also added #StGeorgesDay at the end of the tweet.”
The post has since been deleted.
Social media users flocked to Twitter to blast the error.
One Twitter user, referring to Diane Abbott’s apology for breaking the law by downing a cocktail on the London Overground, said: “I hate to say it but @HackneyAbbott was in charge of this release, her numerical accuracy is not brilliant at the best of times with or without a few Mojitos.”
Another said: “As much as I would like to see St. George’s Day made a Bank Holiday, that would never make me vote Labour – ever.”
Another added: “Maybe a days hols for Lenin as well?”
Another said: “If Labour get in then every day will be a Bank holiday. Everyone will be out of work. Remember Callaghan.”
The humiliating faux-pas comes three days after the party tweeted a “happy Passover” post to the Jewish community, including a loaf of bread in the post, which is not eaten during the holiday.
The post, which has also been deleted, triggered a wave of criticism towards Labour.
One post said: “Astonishing (but sadly unsurprising) basic religious illiteracy from @UKLabour.”
Another said: “Got to laugh. @UKLabour trying to [be] inclusive to Jews celebrating Passover. The one thing observant Jews specifically avoid at Passover is bread.”
The message, which featured the Star of David, read: “As Jewish people prepare for Passover, we’re wishing everyone in the Jewish community chag sameach [happy holiday].”
The Labour Party has come under fire for a string of anti-Semitism incidents.
