Keir Starmer is considering declaring a special bank holiday for England fans if the national team emerges victorious at the upcoming World Cup tournament. The Prime Minister has strongly hinted at the possibility of granting the day off to celebrate if Thomas Tuchel’s squad manages to break a 60-year drought.
During the Nato summit, Starmer, an avid football enthusiast, suggested that the decision on a bank holiday would be contingent on England’s success, stating, “I don’t want to jinx it, but inquire again if we reach the final.” While Downing Street is actively discussing the proposal, it is likely that the holiday, if approved, would not coincide with the Monday following the final, as it aligns with Starmer’s last day in office, but rather be scheduled for the Friday post the World Cup championship match.
The potential holiday could also coincide with a victory parade for the England team, who may delay their return to the UK until Monday if they progress to the final. Notably, the Scottish Government had recently approved a similar Bank Holiday following Scotland’s participation in the World Cup, showing support for such celebratory gestures.
As England gears up for a crucial quarter-final clash against Norway this weekend, Starmer engaged in friendly banter with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere during the summit in Turkey. Reflecting on recent matches, Starmer humorously mentioned the uproar over a contentious red card incident involving Jarrell Quansah, influenced by outside pressures akin to Donald Trump’s intervention in a separate football matter.
Expressing his admiration for England’s performance and resilience, Starmer emphasized the camaraderie with Norway but acknowledged the competitive spirit that would arise during the upcoming match. He also intervened over scheduling concerns for England’s matches, ensuring fair play and extended pub hours for fans to enjoy the games.
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