Keir Starmer has dropped a Bank Holiday hint when asked how an England Euro 2024 win tonight would be marked.
Speaking ahead of the crunch clash in Berlin, the football-mad PM told Gary Neville that victory would have to be marked in an “appropriate way”. He was asked by the former England international if millions of people would be given a day off to celebrate a historic victory. The new PM faces calls to announce a Bank Holiday if the Three Lions are successful. He was asked by the Man United legend on ITV: “There are 60 million people all asking the same question – are they getting a day off, are they getting a Bank Holiday? It’s on you.”
Mr Starmer responded: “I don’t know about that, let’s get through the next few hours, let’s get their hands on that trophy… but we need to mark it in some way. We’ll have to see what that is – an appropriate way.” Paying tribuite to Gareth Southgate’s team, who face Spain this evening, Mr Starmer said: “You don’t get to the final just by luck, this is hard work, this is talent, skill, strategy, I just desperately hope now that we get that win this evening.”
He said he could relate to the trials and tribulations Southgate has faced, branding him a “great manager who will get the best out of them”. “We just need to get that over the line,” he said. The Labour leader, who has been in No10 just over a week, said he isn’t sure whether he’ll be able to watch Arsenal play much this season.
He told the presenter: “I’ve already got the Arsenal fixtures in my diary. Whether I make them or not is another matter, but they’re in.” And the PM continued: “I’m hoping to be there, but we’ll see.” “I think there’s such optimism, I’ve just come from London, it’s just breathing optimism… to win this would be fantastic.”
World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst led calls for the nation to get a bank holiday if Gareth Southgate’s men end England’s 58-year trophy drought. The England legend has written to the King to ask for a special day to celebrate if the Three Lions bring it home on Sunday.
Promoted Stories
He said: “Thanks to the dedication of the team and unwavering support from England’s fans, we’re very close to victory. It’s about time we have something to celebrate as a nation, and a bank holiday would make a win even more special for millions of supporters across the country.”
Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey also joined the calls, saying: “The Three Lions are playing their first ever final on foreign soil, and if they bring it home, the Government should bring home a bank holiday to celebrate.
“England deserves the chance to celebrate a once-in-a-generation event. Who knows, we might even get decent weather.”
No10 has confirmed that Mr Starmer will attend the Euros final in Berlin on Sunday when England will take on Spain. Earlier in his trip to Washington DC, Mr Starmer joked that England has not missed a penalty while he’s been PM.
