Binita Mehta: Another royally pride-worthy British summer – how about a British Pride Day to sustain its effects?

Binita Mehta is a 22 year old Conservative activist and council candidate in Watford. Follow Binita on Twitter.

The birth and international introduction of HRH Prince George of Cambridge; the first anniversary of our outstanding Olympic opening ceremony; the first British male champion at Wimbledon in 77 years; a British US Open winner; the British Lions’ triumph; and another British Tour de France champion - and all during a surprisingly scorching summer season. There are currently loads of reasons for us Brits to enjoy a renewed sense of national patriotism, even surpassing the glorious summer of 2012. I’ve even been hearing our wonderful national anthem being whistled and hummed throughout the streets of London!

Additionally, our party has a lot to be proud of: coming a joint 36 per cent with Labour at mid-term; being proven the preferable party for young Britons thanks to our strong action on welfare reform and stress on individual responsibility; economic growth, thanks to our sensible fiscal policies, and a reported mini “baby boom” have boosted us more than last year’s 'Jubilympic' summer.

Having recently returned from America, where Yanks are recognised globally for their national pride, it was particularly striking to observe how our Union Flag has infiltrated their fashions. Many shops around LA have at least one product on sale featuring British symbols, and T-shirts worn by Californians are covered in British branding – not quite as many as the stars and stripes, but still an impressive amount, especially just after their Fourth of July. My own union flag phone cover garnered much American attention and imitation!

Binita Mehta: The Olympic summer of 2012 has reignited our pride in being British

Binita Mehta works at the think-tank British Future and is chair of Hertfordshire Conservative Future.

I’ve always had a bit of a thing about Union Jacks. On arriving at Warwick University three years ago, I was a bit shocked when my new Union Jack laptop bag was ridiculed for being “a bit BNP”. I’ve always been proud to be British, maybe I got it from my dad who was given refuge in Britain when the Ugandan Asians were kicked out by Idi Amin. So getting accused of being "a bit BNP" sounded like the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard.

If I were going to university this year, I would not get the same reaction. The summer of 2012 has changed that. There’s a new sense of patriotism around. And it feels different, it feels modern and 2012-ish, and it feels like we all get it.

Just ahead of the summer, my Conservative Future friends were questioning the value of the Olympics to Britain. Not any more. Now we are having discussions about how we can see a legacy for volunteering, and how we get that same kind of community spirit working again. They also feel the way Boris embodied the optimism of 2012 has been a great boost for us.