A petition for the UK government to grant a one-off bank holiday on 21 June has soared past 30,000 signatures in light of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown announced earlier this week.
Petitioner David Metcalf actually created the petition last year, displaying oracle-like qualities as he suggested 21 June could be an ideal time for a special Bank Holiday to allow family and friends to come together, which Johnson later earmarked as the date he aimed to remove all legal restrictions on social contact.
Taking to Twitter, Metcalf had said: "With #COVID19 scuppering #Christmas and #Eid amongst others. I think we need a family day to look forward to.
"I'm calling on the govt. to make Mon June 21st, midsummer's day, in 2021 a bank holiday. A day for families of all faiths & none to get together."
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The Prime Minister has since pinpointed the date provisionally as the moment when all social distancing restrictions will finally be loosened, as well as the opening and removal of capacity limits on large events, life events such as weddings and funerals, and the reopening of nightclubs.
In light of this, Metcalf's original petition has gained a new lease of life and people have flocked to sign it, with the government now obliged to respond to it given it has gone past the threshold of 10,000 signatures.
The petition reads: "We'd like the government to create a one off Bank Holiday, to be known as Merriweather Day, on Monday June 21st 2021 as an opportunity for families and friends to come together."
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It goes on to state: "Covid-19 has negatively impacted people and families up and down the length of the country in many different ways not least their ability to come together.
"We've seen family celebrations at Eid, amongst others, cancelled and it looks likely Christmas will be the same.
"This proposed bank holiday would help families and friends of all faiths and none to come together to celebrate.
"We've chosen the longest day of the year as it provides for the most opportunities to be outdoors in a Covid-19 safe way."
There's been a lot of excitement around the announced roadmap out of lockdown, although many seem to have missed the small caveat that the dates alluded to are the earliest possible time that these steps might be taken.
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All of the steps could be pushed back since four conditions need to met before each of the four stages of easing lockdown. The four conditions are:
- The vaccine deployment programme is continuing successfully.
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
- The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants.
Nevertheless, Boris Johnson certainly seems keen to get people back on the booze when things allow, hinting that he may slash the price of pints in pubs by cutting the tax on them, and instead adding it to the cost of alcohol from supermarkets.
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If this happens, it could be something that's announced in Rishi Sunak's forthcoming budget, due to be revealed next week.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: UK News, Pubs, Coronavirus