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It seems like only the day before yesterday, in fact it was the day before yesterday, that a Wales Office Minister told parliament that it, and not the Welsh assembly, should decide whether St David's Day should become a public holiday.

David Jones was speaking for the UK government in a led by a Liberal Democrat backbencher.

So when he explained that Wales could not be taken in isolation and told MPs: "You can't really take Wales in isolation - there will be impact across the border" and "for that reason it is a matter that properly resides with this parliament" they were entitled to assume this was the view of the UK government.

But 48 hours is a very long time in politics and today the very same government he was representing decided to ask the assembly whether it would like the power to decide the issue.

Today, the UK government announced: "We would also consult with the Welsh assembly over giving them the power to decide whether or not to move the early May bank holiday to coincide with St David's Day."

The assembly has previously voted in favour of a bank holiday so may find it difficult to resist this invitation.

The suggestion is that a March 1 holiday would replace the May Day holiday viewed by many as an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of working people.

So workers' rights or the patron saint of Wales? An interesting dilemma for the next socialist/nationalist coalition in the assembly.

UPDATE: An e-mail arrives from the Wales Office: "A Welsh Office spokesperson said: "It is entirely correct to say that bank holidays are a matter for Parliament as they are currently set by annual orders laid before the House of Commons.

"Any additional bank holiday for St David's Day would therefore have to be agreed by Parliament. DCMS are consulting on a range of options for moving the existing May Bank Holiday and this includes the possibility of giving Welsh Ministers the powers to move it to St David's Day."

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