THE May Day bank holiday is being moved to a Friday next year so the whole nation can mark the 75th anniversary of World War Two’s victory.
The Sun can reveal that Britain’s annual day off in early Spring is to be shifted back by four days, from May 4th to 8th.
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Business secretary Greg Clark’s action means the bank holiday will now coincide with Victory in Europe Day so all workers will have the chance to celebrate it.
VE Day parties will kick off a three day long weekend of commemorative events to honour the generation who defeated the Nazis.
With the remaining WW2 veterans now in their 90s now, it is being seen as the last big chance say to say thank you to them while they are alive.
Announcing the decision last night, Mr Clark told the forces’ favourite paper: “VE Day marked an historic moment in not only our nation’s, but the world’s history and it is important that we commemorate this great occasion on its 75th anniversary.
“Moving next year’s early May Bank Holiday to VE Day itself is a right and fitting tribute.
“It will ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to remember and honour our heroes of the Second World War and reflect on the sacrifices of a generation.”
The announcement comes after the poignant and highly successful marking this week of the 75th anniversary of D Day – the invasion of mainland Europe which set allied troops on the road to victory 11 months later.
May 8, 1945, was the day that Nazi Germany’s armed forces unconditionally surrendered, after the fall of Berlin and Adolf Hitler’s suicide.
It is only the second time ever that the May Day bank holiday has been moved.
The first was 25 years earlier in 1995, to mark VE Day’s 50th anniversary.
TRIBUTE TO HEROES
Ministers have the power to move the dates of bank holidays by asking for a Royal Proclamation, under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.
The date change is for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as bank holidays are a devolved power for Scotland.
But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Holyrood Government are expected to follow suit.
Veterans’ chiefs welcomed the move last night.
Forces charity SSAFA’s CEO Sir Andrew Gregory dubbed it “absolutely fitting”, adding; “It is our duty to keep the events of the past alive in collective memory, including future generations.
“This is how we ensure that such a conflict never happens again.”
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Pageant Master of VE Day 75Bruno Peek added: “This amazing event taking place on 8th-10th May 2020 provides the perfect opportunity for the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.
“It will involve local communities, youth and voluntary organisations, faith groups and individuals paying tribute to the millions who sacrificed so much to secure the freedom we all enjoy today.”
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