The Scottish National Party has been urged to declare August 23 “Wallace Day” in honour of thirteenth-century military hero Sir William Wallace.
Members of Holyrood’s Public Petitions Committee will debate the proposal today after David Reid of the Society of William Wallace put it forward.
Mr Reid’s petition reached 1,345 signatures before it was considered for debate.
It asked the Scottish Government to “officially declare and promote the 23rd of August as ‘Wallace Day’ in honour of Scotland’s national hero Sir William Wallace, who was judicially executed in London on the 23rd of August 1305 as a result of defending Scotland’s sovereignty”.
The petition also said tourist numbers could increase as a result of the declaration, but did not cite specific statistics.
A briefing submitted to the Public Petitions Committee by Holyrood researchers notes “some independent support for underlying visitor interest in Wallace-related heritage”, and points to a record high of 144,200 visitors to the National Wallace Monument in 2025-26 as evidence.
But it also observed that “not every day commemorating a significant figure carries statutory recognition”.
It pointed to Burns Night, which started as a nineteenth-century grassroots movement, as being “occasionally acknowledged” by the Scottish Parliament, and is recognised by the Government only through a letter from the First Minister and Ministerial attendance at Burns Night suppers.
The briefing also noted that St Andrew’s Day, considered Scotland’s national day, only received formal bank holiday status in 2007.
A separate briefing note from the Scottish Government, however, suggested the petition may not be successful.
Scotland does not have an “established policy framework for the creation of new nationally recognised commemorative days”, it said.
It added: “There is also currently little evidence of widespread public support, or a clearly defined proposal for how such a day would be observed.”
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It continued: “While the establishment of a Wallace Day is possible in principle, the Scottish Government’s view is that any proposal would need to demonstrate substantial and sustained public support and be supported by a clearer proposition regarding delivery, purpose and demonstrable outcomes before support could be considered.”
The SNP also recognised that Sir William Wallace was an “important figure in Scotland’s history and acknowledges the commitment of those promoting greater public awareness of his legacy”.
The Society of William Wallace has also created a separate Change.org petition urging the creation of “Wallace Day”, which has received over 2,600 votes.
Sir William Wallace, born around 1270, was a Scottish knight and military leader who came to prominence as he resisted to the rule of King Edward I of England.
“In 1296 he led the cause to secure Scotland’s sovereignty from England’s overlordship and restore Scotland’s place in Europe,” Mr Reid’s petition read.
It also noted that in 1297, he secured a “national and monumental victory” by defeating the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and in 1298 was declared High Guardian of Scotland and protector of the realm.
“Between 1299 and 1301 he spent time in mainland Europe fighting for Scotland’s sovereignty,” the petition added.
He was executed in Smithfield, London, in 1305 by being hung, drawn and quartered.
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