Labour's Lisa Nandy admits she was unaware of 1,100th anniversary of England's foundation next year amid calls for celebrations and statue of King Athelstan in Trafalgar Square

Published: 08:59 EST, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 09:00 EST, 12 November 2026 Labour's Lisa Nandy today admitted she was unaware of a growing clamour for national celebrations to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of England.There have been calls for a series of events - including a Bank Holiday - to commemorate when King Athelstan became the first king of the English in 927.The unification on July 12 saw Athelstan, who was already king of Mercia and Wessex, bring other kingdoms – including Northumbria – under his control.Top historian Tom Holland has been among campaigners calling for the anniversary to be properly celebrated.There have been demands for commemorative coins and stamps, special lessons in schools, and the erection of a statue of King Athelstan in London's Trafalgar Square.Ms Nandy, the Culture Secretary, was challenged on Thursday to oversee Government efforts to allow a 'moment of national joy' next year.'It hasn't been brought to my attention before,' the Cabinet minister told MPs.But she added that her Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport would work to ensure that 'we do have a fitting commemoration'. Labour's Lisa Nandy today admitted she was unaware of a growing clamour for national celebrations to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of England There have been calls for a series of events - including a Bank Holiday - to commemorate when King Athelstan became the first king of the English in 927Ms Nandy responded in the House of Commons after Tory shadow culture secretary Rebecca Paul urged the Government to come forward with plans for the occasion.'Next year marks 1,100 years since Athelstan united England and began the glorious national story we are still telling to this day, an occasion most certainly worthy of celebration and recognition,' Ms Paul said.'Yet when the Government were asked how they intended to mark the occasion, the answer was there are no plans.'This important anniversary should be a moment of national joy that brings communities together.'A milestone marked with commemorative coins and stamps, special lessons in schools, Athelstan on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth and maybe even a visit by His Majesty to this Parliament.'Will the Culture Secretary reconsider celebrating the 1,100th anniversary of England's birth and share with this House in due course any such plans?'Ms Nandy replied: 'It hasn't been brought to my attention before, but I have to say the ceremonials minister (Stephanie Peacock) has just said to me that this is right up her street.'And she would be very delighted to work with the honourable member (Ms Paul) to make sure that we do have a fitting commemoration.'King Athelstan died in 939 and was succeeded by his half-brother Edmund I. An empty tomb commemorates Athelstan at Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire.Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has hailed King Athelstan - whose coronation took place in Kingston-upon-Thames, where he is the local MP - as a historical hero of his.He has suggested there should be a national Bank Holiday on 12 July next year.But the Government has previously rejected calls for a public holiday as it would cost the UK economy an estimated £2billion.In response to a written parliamentary question, business minister Kate Dearden said: 'The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and the Government has no plans to create a one-off Bank Holiday to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the unification of England under King Athelstan.'While an additional Bank Holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy is considerable.'The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2billion.'