To think that all UK countries should have the same number of public holidays?

[HelenaWaiting]

Currently, Northern Ireland has ten public holidays, Scotland has nine, whilst England and Wales lag behind on eight. How is this not discrimination? Surely if we are one nation we should enjoy the same number of statutory holidays? These might be at different times, reflecting the culture of the nation, but should add up to the same number. Shouldn't they?

Derail ..

Honestly I think you'd be hard pressed to come up with a thing that the English are sufficiently collectively enthusiastic about to warrant marking with an annual public holiday.

Legislation on minimum annual leave already factors in bank holidays too so it wouldn't change much for most workers as new contracts come into effect. Bank Holidays are very bad for the economy too.

The trouble is that St David’s Day and St George’s day fall in March and April respectively and there are already Easter bank holidays and another couple in May. The problem is not that we have too few public holidays,it’s that they are not sufficiently spread out over the year. It’s ridiculous that there are no public holidays between the end of August and Christmas.

Where I live ( In England) all our schools close on Whit Friday and nurseries only offer a half day.

Even if you don't have kids you need to take a days holiday or WFH as the area closes to traffic from 8am -Midnight so you can't get near your house!!
I had a boss who didn't believe me when I said I need to take that day as A/L and why!

Each country gets to set its own public holidays. Even before devolution.

I think England has a low number compared to many other countries across Europe, and I would welcome one more - and I'd put it in the autumn, as that school term is the longest and could do with it.

But I remember the large amount of complaining when we get extras for major royal events. It's all too hostile to the economy, and that seems to be the prevailing view.

I don't think that the difference between 8 and 9 public holidays really makes any difference to the state of the economy. But I think it does show a nose-to-the-grindstone ethic, and if that somewhat joyless, utilitarian view is the one that resonates most, then fair enough (I was always more of a cavalier than a roundhead!)

Group together and advocate for yourselves...yes I'm looking at you, England!

You do realise that bank holidays in Scotland aren't the same as in England? So, e.g. my nephews and niece will at school on the following 'bank holidays': Good Friday
Spring Bank Holiday
St Andrews Day
There are local holidays but since as many people have pointed out some workers in Scotland have to take English Bank Holidays and the local holidays vary from area to area there isn't the same collective madness there is on an English Bank Holiday.

The first year I was in England for Easter I was really shocked at how many people kept asking me 'what are you doing for Easter', I had no idea it was a big holiday. In Scotland you eat some chocolate for breakfast on Easter Sunday and that's it.

Each country gets to set its own public holidays. Even before devolution.

No they don’t The Welsh Parliament needs Westminster’s permission to makes David’s day a public holiday. And Westminster has always refused, citing amongst other reasons people commuting back and forth across the Severn bridge.

We get 10 public holidays in Ireland. My employer also gives us Good Friday as an additional day off plus I get 32 days annual leave!

Surely if we are one nation we should enjoy the same number of statutory holidays?

You could say that about every aspect of life in which case there would be no grounds for having devolution. Just make everything the same for everyone and run it all from London. I've think we've been down that path...

The practice of different holidays predates recent devolution by a very long way. Why should every aspect of life be entirely homogenous?

I'm in NI and I don't get all 10, but my kid does. So it actually just equates to two extra days of paid childcare. I'll swap.

Deliberately hurtful? To who, you? I grew up in The Troubles, I'm Northern Irish. My point was that you were jealous of NI having 2 more public holiday days, but didn't think you'd be jealous of the shit we've had to live through. Now you're turning it round to me, trying to make me out like I've said something offensive, when I have actually LIVED through the shootings and the bombings and my friends parents being blown up in the line of duty. Catch yourself on.

Your post was frankly ridiculous.

. So sorry. I have depression and was just looking to start a conversation.

@HelenaWaiting best to post in Chat and steer clear of AIBU, much safer in future.

Nobody heard of the Barnett formula? England gets less spent on its people per head than any other country in the uk and yet per head provides the most tax income. And and the least amount of holidays just to rub it in.
And we are still constantly given grief and told to suck it up. Do you seriously think people in deprived working class towns of England have it better than those in Scotland? At least they can get a free university education, their prescriptions paid for.