UK - Immigration Minister Wants Introduction of "Britishness Day"

Liam Byrne will argue that a national day should become the focal point of a campaign for "stronger shared standards" and a cultural code to which immigrants should be expected to adhere.

"Britishness Day" should be a "celebration of what we like and love about living in this country", Mr Byrne will say in a speech to the think tank, Progress.

Byrne has spent recent weeks canvassing voters' opinions on anational day as he prepares a pamphlet for a think tank on the subject.

Overall, he has concluded, the most important thing was to address thefeeling among some voters that it is not politically acceptable tocelebrate Britain and being British.