There is always a danger in any MP campaigning for more time off work. 'Don't they have enough holiday already?' queries an incredulous nation.

But some poor bugger has to put their head above the parapet to be shot at by the assorted misery guts and gradgrinds who seem to think that people having one more public holiday a year is tantamount to the collapse of the entire global economy.

And, dear reader, I was honoured to volunteer for this mission - to fight the good fight for an extra day off work in that Bank Holiday desert that is called autumn. The long haul from August Bank Holiday to Christmas is without a glimmer of hope by way of a day off. Is it any wonder we reach winter looking frazzled and exhausted?

A few year back, I went to Spain for an Easter break. The celebrations of semana santa (holy week) were in full swing. It seemed that everyone was taking part in the stunning parades and the associated partying. And yet just a few days after the end of semana santa, it was full steam ahead for the feria with yet more time off and partying. The Spanish get 14 public holiday s a year. And this is a minimum - the entitlement is topped by a stackful of saints days and local festivals.

And we get by in England with just eight days a year. It wasn't always like this. Like our neighbours we used to have our local festivals and holidays. But reforms in the 1830s reduced the number of public holidays to just four a year.

It is a little known fact that the last public holiday to be introduced was in 1978 - with a Labour Government.

Since 1997, the Government has pushed ahead and enshrined people's right to paid holiday in law. But it has not pushed forward with adding more public holidays.

There is support for a new public holiday - the unions and the TUC are backing a new day off - as are the UK's voluntary organisations. The Prime Minister has talked about the possibility of a British Day and travel firm Thomas Cook a rerunning a campaign asking people to Vote for a Day Off. There's a petition on the Downing Street website with half a million signatories. Thomas Cook have had a similar number signed up to their campaign.

When I was allotted time to introduce my Autumn Bank Holiday Bill, I knew I would be in the line of fire. And so I was.

In opposition, there was the expected ranting of how bad it would be for the economy, blah, blah. A swipe at the Warwick Agreement, blah, blah. Then a condemnation that the Government has increased the number of days holiday from 20 to 28, blah, blah.

He topped of his attack on an extra day off by asserting that Bank holidays smacked of collectivism and central control and that they militated against individual freedom and flexibility.

Whether that is the current view of the CBI, I don't know. What we do know is that they feel that days off are bad for the economy. So are the opponents now going to campaign against weekends? Do they want to take us back to the Victorian working day? Actually, they probably do - when workers were bonded labour with no rights and no freedoms. Oooops - does that sound like I am advocating some sort of
collectivism?

Contrary to what the Mr Misery Gutses believe, an extra Bank Holiday would benefit the economy. The leisure, travel, hospitality and retail sectors would all welcome a new bank holiday.

People would have time to recharge their batteries and to spend time on the things they want to do - not what they are told to do at work.

And of course, when we win the fight, I would like you to use your extra holiday to visit Cleethorpes. The haddock and chips are a treat with portions the size of the fishing quota of a small country. The beach donkeys would be out on the sand giving rides to excited toddlers. What could be better on a bank holiday than being by the seaside...

Shona McIsaac