A bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation? Jacob Rees-Mogg backs plans to make day monarch will be crowned a public holiday as he plays down fears that the long weekend will stunt the economy
- Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the coronation is an ‘important symbolic act’
- He said he does not think the bank holiday will have enormous effect on growth
- Attitude is not echoed by all government members who have raised concerns
- Date has not been set for coronation but should be announced in coming weeks
Jacob Rees-Mogg has backed plans to make the day King Charles III is crowned a public holiday and played down fears that the long weekend will stunt the economy.
It comes despite sources saying that some members of the government were against it because of their growth fears.
Although the Queen‘s coronation was a bank holiday, it is not reportedly guaranteed that King Charles’s will be the same, despite tradition.
But Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he thinks the day should be a public day of celebration.
Rees-Mogg said: ‘The coronation is an important symbolic act with constitutional resonance about the stability of our system.
‘To have a day off for that is perfectly reasonable, and the effect on growth will not be enormous.’
His backing for the day comes as the Telegraph reported that government planning has been affected by the assumption of a potential extra bank holiday.
And fears were also previously raised within the government that the day off could cost £1.36 billion.
This has since been recalculated by PwC, who think that the extra day will actually cost £831million.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, has said he thinks the day will be a bank holiday, to celebrate the UK King’s coronation
Rees-Mogg said: ‘The coronation is an important symbolic act with constitutional resonance about the stability of our system’. Pictured: The King
The King’s coronation is expected to fall in early June next year, with royal and military sources saying that it could occur on June 2.
This date was when the Queen was crowned in 1953 and rumours have swirled that it will be the same as hers.
Other possibilities have been floated, including moving the May bank holiday in a bid to celebrate his coronation.
Despite claims of when it will occur by sources, no confirmed date has been set.
But it is expected that the day will be confirmed in the weeks to come so there is time to plan a Spring or Summer event.
Also, although the Queen’s coronation was a bank holiday, it is not reportedly guaranteed that King Charles’s will be the same, despite tradition. Pictured: Buckingham Palace
One source said that the current idea is to have the coronation in early June as the warmer weather would be more suitable for a jubilant time of national celebration.
Another possibility which was reported by Bloomberg was June 2, but many sources do not think this will be the case.
If it were to fall on that day, the coronation would happen in around the same period as Trooping the Colour and the FA Cup final.
Because June 3 is a Saturday, there would not need to be a bank holiday.
A source in the government said that there is always a discussion about bank holidays and the effects but they have not heard the issue mentioned yet.
Deputy director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research Professor Stephen Millard said that the economic effect of a bank holiday is usually small.
He added that any negative effects are reversed. But he said that the coronation could also generate a small growth for the economy due to celebrations and items being sold.