A CALENDAR maker has hit out after the government unexpectedly changed the date of next year’s May Day.
Allan & Bertram say the move has cost them around £200,000.
Last week, Tory Business Secretary Greg Clark said the 2020 May Day bank holiday will be moved back four days, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The holiday, which is traditionally held on a Monday, will now be on the Friday and form part of a three-day weekend of commemorative events.
Clark, said moving the bank holiday was a “right and fitting tribute”.
He added: “VE Day marked an historic moment in not only our nation’s but the world’s history and it is important that we commemorate this great occasion on its 75th anniversary. Honouring those who did their duty, whether on the battlefields of Europe or through their efforts and sacrifices here at home.”
But Allan & Bertram were furious as they’d already printed about 400,000 calendars for next year.
Andrew Bennett, managing director of the firm told the BBC: “We’re totally in agreement with changing the date. Just not changing it with 11 months notice, when you’ve had 74 years to prepare for this event.”
It is only the second time the early May bank holiday has been moved - the first was in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day.
Bennett said people were given more notice then: “They announced that in December 1993. That was absolutely fine. There was no reason why this decision couldn’t have been made 18 months ago.”
The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it had “considered the practical implications”.
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