241 Pizza

Even those who would be free to enjoy Tax Freedom Day would probably not do so. Having a long weekend at the same time as two thirds of other families, each trying to do its own thing, means roads are congested, airports turn into displaced persons’ camps, prices are high, queues are long and retail parks are temptingly crowded for terrorists.

Output and capital productivity would rise, congestion would be eased, freedom of choice would improve and the new social divide would be bridged if Bank Holidays were abolished. New Year binge drinking would no longer be encouraged. Both business and consumers would be better off if all eight days were added to the four weeks EU statutory minimum paid leave.

Retailers make profitable seasonal sales for Valentine’s Day without a holiday so there is no reason to think that sales linked to Bank Holidays, such as chocolate eggs, paint and geraniums, would suffer. They would also be less vulnerable to a day’s bad weather.

Parents could then take more of their annual leave during school holidays. On current proposals, school terms will no longer stop for Easter.

Religious observance, far from being damaged by official indifference, might well be strengthened. Church members would have a right and a duty to take key nominated days off to worship, free from rival, Mammonite pressures.

To be effective, however, the law would have to make it an offence to employ card-carrying Christians on three or four nominated holy days. Observing members of other religions would then also have their rights and duties equally enforced on their holy days.

The case for abolishing Bank Holidays applies even more to weekends and conventional working days. Competitive pressures are undermining the idea of a weekend of rest for even more millions of families, widening class divides. Four million already work night shifts.

Far greater economic and social gains could be made by turning Saturday and Sunday into normal working days. If we really did move, as so often glibly touted, to a 24/7 economy, then spreading work out would solve travel congestion problems for a generation. Continuous use of plant and equipment would ratchet up productivity, bolster capital returns and create more jobs.

Social regulations that presently seem niggling should ensure that seven day working is not a Gradgrind solution but can improve lifestyles. If strengthened and enforced, the EU’s maximum 48-hour week, laws on flexible working time for parents, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations of 2003, and EU minimum paid leave (which would rise to about 130 days a year) can improve the balance of people’s lives as well as gross domestic product.

Free market pressures will not respect our traditional ways and will constantly undermine them. Instead of resisting, better to try the new lifestyles dictated by commerce, starting with freedom from Bank Holidays.

graham.searjeant@thetimes.co.uk

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