Tonight the clocks are due to go fo forward one hour as we welcome in British Summer Time. Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has suggested it’s time to scrap the twice-yearly clock change and stick to BST all year round.
The idea has some merits and disadvantages. On the one hand it would apparently save several hundred lives, cut electricity costs, and increase the tourist trade. On the other, it would disrupt the farming industry. Both sides will have to argue the pros and cons.
I personally would prefer to stay on BST because I’d prefer more daylight in the evenings on long dark winter days. There would be an increase in after school activities too, which would keep youngsters off the streets for a while. I think the social impact would be beneficial.
One of the opposing groups are Scottish farmers. They argue that it would have a negative impact on their way of life. Some people advocate having two time zones in Britain while others say it would cause chaos. I can’t see how it would. There’s plenty of other countries that have different time zones and seem to cope fine.
It will be interesting to see how the debate goes and what we end up with.
Here’s some more on the subject.
In the United States, we have several time zones, as you’re well aware. There are some states that participate in what we call ‘Daylight Savings Time’ and a very few that don’t participate. As far as I can see, it has not caused a problem either way.
Hi Loribeth
Thanks for your comment. Yes, three I believe in continental America. Can’t see how it should present a problem for the British government, but it probably will!