The Archbishop of York has floated the idea that St George’s Day should become a national holiday, echoing calls made by amongst others the religious think-tank Ekklesia.

The Patron Saint of England (and a number of other countries) has been hailed a human rights campaigner by fellow activist Peter Tatchell - who backs ideas that his national day should be a public holiday celebrating dissent.

A new painting of St George by Scott Norwood Witts, which depicts the saint as a man of compassion rather than a crusader, is to be unveiled at the Catholic Cathedral of St George, Southwark, to mark the saint’s day next week.

As England celebrates its patron saint today, senior UK government figure Jack Straw acknowledges that St George needs reclaiming from racists and narrow nationalists - echoing the recent Ekklesia report.