HAPPY St George’s Day? On what should have been a day to celebrate all things English, I unfortunately no longer felt I could.

I should feel proud to have been brought up in this country. Instead I’m wishing I could emigrate.

What, you may ask, has brought about this change? Well it’s the state this country has got itself into.

The benefits system for a start. I now have both my children in nursery as both myself and my wife work fulltime, yet the nursery bill is crippling us.

When my daughter starts school in September, we will never be able to have time off as a family as the amount of school holidays is double what we are entitled to as working individuals. It simply doesn’t pay to work in this country, as those who don’t work can enjoy time with their children and don’t suffer like this.

All credit to the Government for attempting to reform the benefits system, but the problem is it is so entrenched that people truly believe that the state should look after them.

That attitude is wrong. Why should my very hard-earned money be spent on people who believe they should be entitled to a free house just because they aren’t willing to take a low-paid job and actually fend for themselves?

Even David Cameron’s opinion on this country being Christian brought a massive torrent of ill feeling. Why?

The Queen is the head of the Church of England, our laws are based on a Christian belief system. How come it’s OK for virtually every other country to have a basic belief system, but we have to be a free for all?

St George’s Day should be a day to celebrate. Instead I spent it thinking what could have been.

ANDREW KIDMAN, Marchwood.