A UK Government department has asked schools across the UK to celebrate One Britain One Nation (OBON) day on Friday, despite education being devolved.

The Department for Education wrote online yesterday that it is encouraging schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to celebrate the day, despite the fact Scottish schools will have finished for the summer holidays by this Friday (June 25).

The National revealed the fresh push by OBON last month after a Scottish parent in Bradford expressed concerns about the political event happening in school.

But what is the group and why is it pushing British naitonalism now?

What is OBON?

THE celebration of British nationalism involves pupils dressing up in red, white and blue and singing an “anthem” called “One Britain One Dream”, which ends with the repeating lines “Strong Britain Great Nation”.

The event's official website (which was shared by the Department of Education) says that the event "brings us together" through shared values of "tolerance, kindness, pride, respect, and a tremendous desire to help others".

It adds that Britain "boasts a wonderful array of cultures" and this multicultural identity makes Britain "unique", yet the celebration only seems to include UK identity and makes the Union flag its centre-piece.

READ MORE: Ministers want schools across UK to celebrate 'amazing' One Britain One Nation day

The official website states aim is "about seeking to create a single culture that embraces and accommodates differences without over-emphasising and reinforcing them".

There was an OBON all-party parliamentary group set up in 2018, chaired by Tory MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire, Andrea Jenkyns. The group appears to have been inactive since February 2019, but did receive support from former prime minister Theresa May.

When did it start?

THE group appears to have been created prior to the Brexit referendum, with the earliest post on its website dating back to August 2013.

It was set up by former West Yorkshire Police inspector Kash Singh who now serves as its chief executive.

Singh says that he dedicates his role leading OBON to the Queen and people of the UK.

There was outrage last month about an OBON event in a Bradford school after a Scottish parent found out that it would be happening there and told The National.

READ MORE: 'One Britain One Nation' group branded 'creepy' by parent as outrage erupts

The anonymous parent said: "History has shown that movements like that breed fanatics. For lack of a better word, it's creepy."

It appears the campaign to create a "One Britain One Nation Day" was launched in 2017. There was then a push to have it celebrated on June 28, 2019.

The new song "One Britain One Dream", appears to have first been sung by primary school children in Bradford in 2019 as part of celebrations for the day that year.

Why are people talking about it?

UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson called OBON an "amazing project" in the House of Commons and added that it is “so incredibly important that schools do take part in it”.

Most Scottish schools will close for the summer holidays on Thursday, June 24.

Due to education being a devolved matter, the Department for Education's encouragement for schools "across the UK" to get involved in the day is a bit of an overreach and has been condemned. 

National columnist Richard Murphy described the push as "the last vestige of colonialism gone mad", adding that it is "profoundly wrong" and could be considered brainwashing of younger generations.

Belfast-born BBC broadcaster Andrea Catherwood was also critical of the push to promote the day, tweeting: "Britain is not a nation it’s a landmass, N Ireland isn’t in it, it’s in the U.K.

"The Scots have broken up for summer holidays by 25 June and the slogan is reminiscent of 1930s Germany, apart from that…"

READ MORE: One Britain One Nation founder Kash Singh defends 'national pride' event

The Welsh government has also slapped down the plan to have school children in Wales singing the song and waving Union flags, saying that it was not "engaged" on the project prior to the Department of Education tweet and also pointed out that education is a devolved matter.

The topic was even discussed on GB News this morning with presenters "not sure" they would want their children singing the song and one even suggesting that it was like "propaganda".

READ MORE: Crypto-fascist Tory government is normalising English nationalism

You need only search for the topic on Twitter to see the extent of the outrage, but let us know what you think about this UK Government push for British nationalism.