Margaret Thatcher Day: Thousands Oppose Renaming Bank Holiday after Iron Lady

Thousands of people are continuing to sign an e-petition against renaming the August Bank Holiday "Margaret Thatcher Day".

The petition against proposals carried in a private members' bill to rename the day in the late prime minister's honour has notched up more than 32,000 signatures - the largest amount on the government's e-petition website.

The Commons will commence its second reading of the bill, which was introduced by Tory backbencher Peter Bone, on 28 February. A parliamentary petition need to collect 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate.

The petition, submitted by Alan Jones, reads: "We do not believe that the August Bank Holiday should be renamed Margaret Thatcher Day as we believe that there are much worthier historical figures who have done more good for the people of Britain, for example Winston Churchill, and are less divisive a public figure."

The bill had its first reading debate in June, two months after Thatcher, who was PM from 1979-90, died.

Bone, Conservative MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, claimed that if his bill were successful, it "would mean UK Independence Party voters will then come back and vote Conservative".

Those opposed to the move have also turned to social media to argue against Margaret Thatcher Day and spread the petition: