Banking on nice tribute
A bank holiday next year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War would be a fitting tribute to those who fought and won the critical battle against Hitler.
That noble generation, men and women whether in uniform or on the home front, were the very best of us. Time is taking its inevitable toll, so we must value them while we still can. Our opinion poll finding overwhelming public support for a national holiday should be heeded in Downing Street, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer, if he listened, would do the right thing.
While we still have survivors from the Second World War, treasuring their courage and sacrifice is the least we can do. Britain has fewer Bank Holidays than most other European countries. One next year for victory in the Second World War is required before it’s too late.
No waltzing in
For years standing by her dictator husband and living a life of opulence while his brutal forces murdered Syrians, British-born Asma al-Assad was at the apex of a repugnant regime. Reports that she now seeks a divorce from toppled tyrant Bashar and to leave Russia to return to Britain may be officially denied.
The government should make clear that she would be arrested, interviewed and interrogated about the crimes of the ousted Damascus government. British groomed schoolgirl Shamima Begum was stripped of her passport and left stateless for joining IS. Asma, a British-Syrian dual national, still retains her UK citizenship. Should Asma wish to return home from Moscow, she must not be allowed to just waltz back in as if nothing happened.
Happy holiday
All of us at the Daily Mirror wish our readers a Merry Christmas. Wherever you are and however you celebrate, we hope you have a wonderful time.