Keir Starmer is considering declaring a special public holiday in England if the national football team wins the World Cup. The Prime Minister has strongly hinted at the possibility of granting a day off to celebrate should Thomas Tuchel’s squad break the 60-year championship drought.
During the Nato summit, Starmer, a keen football enthusiast, suggested that a bank holiday might be on the cards if England secures victory, stating he didn’t want to tempt fate but would revisit the idea if the team reaches the final match.
Downing Street is reportedly exploring the concept of a celebratory bank holiday, with the likelihood of it not falling on the Monday following the final, which coincides with Starmer’s last day in office, but potentially scheduled for the Friday after the World Cup conclusion.
The decision could coincide with a victory parade for the English team, expected to return from New Jersey on Monday if they advance to the final. Notably, the Scottish Government recently sanctioned a bank holiday following Scotland’s initial World Cup match in nearly three decades.
England’s momentum is building as they gear up for a quarter-final clash against Norway after a thrilling win against Mexico in the round of 16. At the Nato summit, Starmer engaged in light-hearted banter with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere, donning their respective national team jerseys for a playful photo.
In jest, Starmer mentioned the influx of requests he received to challenge Jarrell Quansah’s red card overturn, inspired by Donald Trump’s intervention in Folarin Balogun’s case, but clarified he hadn’t pursued such actions. Praising England’s recent performance, he expressed optimism and strategic alignment with Norway despite the upcoming competitive match.
Over the weekend, the PM intervened to maintain the original kick-off time for England’s game versus Mexico and extended pub hours until 5am to enable fans to watch the match. This move aimed to prevent any perceived unfair advantages for the host nation and accommodate supporters.
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