The prime minister has given the heaviest hint yet that England will get an extra bank holiday if Thomas Tuchel’s side bring home the World Cup for the first time since 1966. Asked at the Nato summit in Ankara whether he would approve a day off, Sir Keir Starmer said: “On the question of a bank holiday, I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.” Downing Street insiders have indicated the day off would most likely be on Friday 24 July, allowing time for the team to return from the final in New Jersey on 19 July and for the Football Association to arrange an open-top bus parade through central London.
The announcement came as England prepare for their quarter-final showdown with Norway in Miami on Saturday night. Starmer, who is widely expected to step down as prime minister the day after the final to be replaced by Andy Burnham, has been sharing banter with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “We’re very strategically aligned, I’m good friends of his,” Starmer said. “But for 90 minutes on Saturday evening, we’ll have to go our different ways.” The prime minister also revealed he had resisted calls from fans to press Fifa to overturn Jarell Quansah’s red card from the dramatic round-of-16 win over Mexico, a match he described as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen”.
“Starmer hints at bank holiday if England win World Cup, as Three Lions prepare for Norway quarter-final.”
Starmer’s hint came as the nation reels from the heroic 10-man victory over Mexico, which fan Ben Shaw, 33, from Preston, called “the best footballing experience of my life”. Fan Tobi Garrett, 22, from Essex, said: “It feels different this year. Dan Burn came on and he’s probably a national hero now.” If England beat Norway, they are likely to face Argentina in the semi-finals, with France favourites to win the tournament.
Meanwhile, Starmer’s own political future is interwoven with England’s run. He will keep in touch with Donald Trump after his time as prime minister ends, having developed a positive relationship despite Trump mocking him as “no Winston Churchill” over the UK’s refusal to permit use of bases for US-Israel strikes on Iran. At the Nato summit, Starmer said Trump had wished him well, adding: “We’re going to stay in touch.” Starmer was also handed a personalised revolver with live ammunition as a gift from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will be decommissioned.
Should England make the final, Starmer would likely attend the game in New Jersey, briefly delaying the handover of power. The prime minister, who announced his resignation last month, will leave Burnham – the only candidate in the race to replace him – to welcome captain Harry Kane and teammates to No 10. But first, Tuchel’s team must overcome Norway, then a semi-final, then a final – three wins standing between England and that elusive trophy.