Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford. Credit: X @AndrewRosindell
During a recent House of Commons debate, Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, said that Ireland could “take their rightful place in the family of the Commonwealth of Nations” and emulate countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
As reported by RTÉ, Rosindell argued this would “take our deep neighbourly relations to the next level” and would “benefit global politics.” He emphasised shared values and history, stating: “Ireland could do much more work themselves, alongside her British brother and her loyal northern neighbour, in recognising that shared heritage.”
Proposal to make St Patrick’s Day a UK Bank Holiday
In the same speech, Rosindell also proposed that St Patrick’s Day be made a national bank holiday across the UK. According to The Standard, he said: “I would strongly submit that St Patrick’s Day should be a national bank holiday, alongside all the other feast days of our Kingdom’s patron saints.”
He also called for the revival of the Order of St Patrick; a British chivalric order associated with Ireland that has been dormant for decades. While some MPs supported this idea, the UK government confirmed that there are no current plans to restore it. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds later stated: “The UK Government is not considering the restoration of the Order of St Patrick.”
Labour MP Liam Conlon, chair of the party’s Irish Society, highlighted how the Irish have helped shape the nation. “Irish navvies dug the underground and then Irish construction workers rebuilt our city after the war,” he said.
Conlon also noted that Irish nationals make up the largest group of European workers in the NHS, adding, “London-Irish did as much as any community to build this great city.”
Labour MP Adam Jogee, who chairs the All-Party Group on the Irish in Britain, opened the debate by praising Irish diplomat Michael Lonergan’s service, stating that cross-party support for the discussion “was testament to the close bond between the UK and Ireland.”
Whether Rosindell’s proposals will gain political traction remains to be seen, but they’ve already sparked lively discussion. What are your thoughts on Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth? Let us know in the comments below.
View all news from Ireland.
