Keir Starmer is making plans to declare a national holiday for England fans if the Three Lions emerge victorious at the World Cup.
The Prime Minister has strongly indicated his desire to reward the country with a day off in the event that Thomas Tuchel’s team ends the 60-year-long wait for success. Starmer, who is an avid football fan, hinted at the possibility of a bank holiday if England wins, stating to journalists at the Nato summit that he would consider the idea closer to the final match.
Reports suggest that Downing Street is actively discussing the proposal, with considerations being made on the timing of the holiday. It is likely that the bank holiday, if approved, would not coincide with the Monday after the final, which coincides with Starmer’s last day in office, but rather would be scheduled for the Friday following the World Cup final.
The holiday could potentially align with a victory parade for the England team, who might delay their return to the UK until Monday if they reach the final. This move follows the approval of a Bank Holiday by the Scottish Government after Scotland’s recent World Cup match and Starmer’s previous call for an extra holiday if the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022.
England is gaining momentum as they head towards a crucial quarter-final match against Norway this Saturday, following a thrilling victory over Mexico in the round of 16. During the Nato summit in Turkey, Starmer engaged in friendly banter with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere, with both leaders donning their respective national team’s jerseys.
In a lighter moment, Starmer mentioned receiving numerous messages urging him to appeal for a red card reversal for Jarrell Quansah, following pressure from former US President Donald Trump to overturn a ban on a US player. Starmer praised England’s recent performance against Mexico and emphasized the strength and resilience displayed by the team.
Acknowledging the upcoming competitive match against Norway, Starmer humorously remarked that strategic alliances would need to be set aside for the duration of the game. The Prime Minister also intervened over the weekend to maintain the original kick-off time for England’s World Cup game against Mexico and allowed pubs to extend their opening hours until 5am to accommodate fans watching the match.