GETTY Why is it seen in some quarters as wrong to celebrate our own patron saint, St George?

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It happens three times a year here in the British Isles. And you know, because you've almost certainly taken part in it. I know I have. My home city of Liverpool has huge Irish connections and so St Patrick's Day is one of serious celebration. The Guinness doesn't stop. And we're not too far away from Wales, either, where the celebration of another patron saint, St David, is also marked with parties up and down that rightfully proud nation.

Burns Night isn't just an exclusively Scottish thing anymore. Haggis, neeps and tatties get consumed all over the United Kingdom alongside a wee dram of the hard stuff. The English, of course, always a sociable bunch, like to join in these shindigs, too - even if we're as Irish or Welsh or Scottish as the nearest Cornish pasty. Because the truth is, everyone likes to party.

GETTY St George's Day should not only be celebrated but marked as a national holiday

So why is it seen in some quarters as wrong to celebrate our own patron saint, St George? Why is it - frankly - seen as something tainted? I've been an MEP since 2009 and every year since then, using that platform, I've been calling for St George's Day to be recognised with a Bank Holiday in England. A day when the English can celebrate being just that - just like the Irish and Welsh and Scottish do for St Patrick's and St David's and Burns. So this year, like every year, I have written to the Prime Minister asking him to recognise this. Asking him to recognise the fact that being English is just as much to be proud of as it is to be Irish, Welsh or Scottish.. Wouldn't it be absolutely fantastic if as much credit was given to the patron saint of England? Like an ever increasing number of English folk, I believe St George's Day should not only be celebrated but marked as a national holiday. There has been an improvement in public recognition over the past couple of years but it is really still very low key.

GETTY St George was born in Turkey in the third century to Christian parents

We have far fewer public holidays in this country than many European countries and this is one area where we really do need to catch up with them.. People are proud to be English and this is one way to shout it out loud. St George's day isn't about re-telling the legend of some guy killing a dragon; it can be about highlighting and recognising all that England has to be proud of, and there is a lot. We have helped to export democracy across the world. We were instrumental in introducing the very idea of a welfare system and a national health service to act as a safety net for society's most vulnerable.

GETTY People are proud to be English and St George’s Day is one way to shout it out loud

But in recent years we have lost our national identity and it is to the detriment of our future. Too often we hear that we wouldn't be able to survive as a country on our own, with our country's leaders talking us down. By remembering all that we have done to be proud of, our national confidence will increase and we could get back to the status of a world- leading nation, and at the same time increase the living standards for our people.. So yes, once more I have written to David Cameron asking for this matter to be given proper consideration. But to be quite honest I don't hold out too much hope for a positive reaction.