We have bank holidays celebrating mumbo jumbo religion (Christmas, easter, etc.) and the upper class (Queen's birthday); but why do we (in the UK) not celebrate ourselves as do the French with Bastille Day or the Americans with Independance Day? May I suggest that we put aside a day to celebrate the Chartists, those gallant and noble men (well, mostly men) who campaigned to turn Britain into a democracy-and succeeded, eventually. All but one of the six points (see below) have been accepted and we live in a free and democratic society because of their struggle. By celebrating them, we celebrate ourselves.

So, let us start a campaign for a Chartist Day bank holiday.

THE SIX POINTS.

The vote for all men over the age of 21
Equal-sized electoral districts
Voting by secret ballot
An end to the need for a property qualification for Parliament
Pay for members of Parliament
Annual election of Parliament