8 Jun 2012

Jubilee good for the soul, says Cameron

9:33 pm on 8 June 2012

Britain's four-day celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee was bad for the economy but good for the soul, says Prime Minister David Cameron.

Monday and Tuesday were public holidays to mark the Jubilee, with some people arguing the extra time off work threatens to further dampen the UK's anaemic growth.

Asked in Berlin on Thursday during a visit for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel whether other European countries would benefit from having Jubilee days off like Britain's, Mr Cameron replied:

"It is not good for the economy, but it was good for the soul."

On Tuesday, Mr Cameron said the jubilee celebrations would give the country the bounce it needed in the face of a faltering economy.

"This year we have these two extraordinary events: 60 years of Her Majesty on the throne and the Olympics.

"These are moments when we get the chance to show off the best of Britain and that includes the institutions, the past, the history, the pageantry that we have seen.

"But it also includes the great universities, the music, the arts, the culture, and yes the economy and what a great place this is to start a business.

"We have paid for the Olympics. We have now got to make the best of them. I think there is huge opportunity to make them a giant advertisement for our country," Mr Cameron said.