British minister admitted Tuesday that the government had spent just 230 pounds (450 dollars) promoting England's national day over the last five years.
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge confessed her department spent 116 pounds on promoting Saint George's Day this year, 114 pounds in 2007 -- and absolutely nothing in the previous three years. The admission provoked outrage from at least one patriotic Member of Parliament.
"I think it is a shameful indictment and it needs to be changed," said Deputy Andrew Rosindell, who is chairman of parliament's all-party Saint George's Day Group.
"We must be the only country in the world that spends nothing or virtually nothing on celebrating its national day. It is a great pity.
"I was expecting it to be low but not that low. Other countries in the world such as Australia and the United States spend a lot of time and effort in promoting their national days and we should be doing more.
"There needs to be a change in the culture of government in the way it approaches something like this."
Saint George's Day, which falls on April 23, is an annual non-event in England.
It is generally punctuated by English breweries trying to cash in and promote a party atmosphere; left-wingers saying that patriotism should be reclaimed from the racists; a variety of English eccentrics; and everyday folk wondering why the English just don't seem to bother. The fact that Saint George's Day is not a public holiday only adds to the general lack of interest.
