United Kingdom Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne proposed on Tuesday the institution of a "Britain Day" to promote British identity in the country.

"The point of it would be to celebrate the contribution that we all make to society," Kelly told the BBC, although she gave no indication as to a possible date on which the holiday would be celebrated.

The two ministers also suggested the day could be used as the occasion on which immigrants to the UK could be awarded citizenship under a proposed points-based system.

The system would allow immigrants to earn their citizenship by doing volunteer work, while breaking the law would result in points loss.

The two ministers say Britons need a stronger sense of what they have in common, and they say the proposed national day would celebrate British values and achievements.

The idea is not a new one, with prime minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown making a similar suggestion last year, when a survey by BBC finding that the anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215, was the most popular choice to celebrate the holiday.

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