No bank holiday to mark 80 years after end of WW2

The government has said it is not planning any additional bank holidays next year to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two.

The Daily Express said ministers were considering extra days off to commemorate Victory in Europe (VE) Day or Victory over Japan (VJ) Day in 1945.

But Downing Street has now confirmed this is not on the cards.

The prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters that it would look to use the existing early May bank holiday on 5 May for commemorative events.

They added that last month's Budget confirmed £10m in funding for events to mark VE and VJ Day next year.

In the UK, VE Day on 8 May marks the Allies' formal acceptance of Nazi Germany's surrender in 1945, bringing an end to fighting in Europe.

The surrender of Imperial Japan on VJ Day, which brought the war to an end a few months later, is commemorated on 15 August.

The 80th anniversary of both days next year has been billed as the last significant milestone that surviving WW2 veterans will be able to take part in themselves.

The Express said options to mark the occasion included days off on 9 and 12 May for nationwide celebrations over a long weekend, or adding another bank holiday on 22 August to make the summer bank holiday a four-day break.

But the PM's spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday the government's plans "do not include an additional bank holiday".

"We we will look to use the existing May Day bank holiday for commemorative events,” they said.

“We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately which is why we have announced more than £10m to mark them".

They added there was always an "important balance to be struck" when it came to requests for extra bank holidays, given the "impacts for businesses, services and the broader economy which need to be taken into account".

The early May bank holiday, traditionally celebrated on a Monday, was moved back four days to carve out a three-day weekend for commemorative events on the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020.

The holiday was also changed from 1 May to 8 May to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WW2 in Europe in 1995.

Last year saw an additional bank holiday created on 8 May to mark the coronation of King Charles two days earlier.

There were two additional bank holidays in 2022: one to mark the day of the late Queen's funeral, and another for the Platinum Jubilee to create a four-day weekend for commemorative events in early June.