Keir Starmer is considering the possibility of declaring a national holiday in England if the Three Lions emerge victorious at the World Cup. The Prime Minister has strongly hinted that he is inclined to offer a day off to the nation if Thomas Tuchel’s team ends the 60-year wait for a World Cup win.
During a press briefing at the Nato summit, Starmer, a football enthusiast, responded to inquiries about a potential national holiday by saying, “I don’t want to tempt fate, but check back with me if we make it to the final.” Downing Street is reportedly in the process of formulating the proposal, with specific details still being ironed out. If England were to win, the holiday would likely not coincide with the Monday after the final, which coincides with Mr. Starmer’s last day in office, but rather the Friday following the World Cup finale.
The timing of the holiday could align with a victory parade for the England team, as they are expected to return from New Jersey on Monday if they reach the final. Last month, the Scottish Government approved a similar holiday after Scotland’s first World Cup match in 28 years. Starmer, in opposition, had previously urged Boris Johnson’s administration to consider an extra holiday if the Lionesses secured victory at the Euros in 2022.
England is gaining momentum as they gear up for a quarter-final clash with Norway on Saturday, following a thrilling win over Mexico in the round of 16. At the Nato summit in Turkey, Starmer engaged in light-hearted banter with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stoere, with both leaders donning their respective team’s football jerseys.
In jest, Starmer mentioned being inundated with requests to challenge Jarrell Quansah’s red card decision, following pressure from Donald Trump to reverse a ban on US player Folarin Balogun. Despite the humor, Starmer emphasized the team’s outstanding performance against Mexico and the unity displayed across the squad.
Acknowledging the upcoming match against Norway, Starmer quipped, “For 90 minutes on Saturday evening, we’ll have to part ways as we enter that match, despite our strategic alignment.” Over the weekend, the Prime Minister intervened to maintain the original kick-off time for England’s match against Mexico and extended pub hours until 5am to accommodate supporters watching the game.
