​Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly weighing the option of proposing a bank holiday if England clinches World Cup glory, a victory that would mark the nation’s first triumph in six decades. While the prime minister has signalled the possibility of a nationwide day off to celebrate such a historic win, concrete plans are not expected to be announced until after the final match. It is believed that the potential bank holiday could fall on Friday 24 July, giving the team sufficient time to return from the final, which is scheduled for the previous Sunday.
During talks with reporters at the NATO summit, Starmer avoided predicting the outcome, saying, “I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.” Following a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Mexico, England is preparing for a quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami this Saturday. Photos from the Ankara sidelines show Starmer alongside Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, as the two leaders discussed the latest developments. If England advances, they would face either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta on 15 July.
From Ankara, Starmer praised England’s win over Mexico on Monday as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen.” He lightheartedly reminded Store that England’s World Cup success would occur under a Labour government, joking, “I’m a good friend of his.” He added that the UK-Norway relationship remains strong and that Store is a pivotal figure within the coalitions Starmer has been building. Nonetheless, he cautioned that on the night of the match in question, the teams would temporarily part ways as they focus on the game.
Starmer also addressed the controversy over Jarell Quansah’s red card against Mexico, insisting that he had resisted calls to overturn the incident. He pointed out that former US president Donald Trump reportedly influenced FIFA to suspend Balogun’s ban, enabling him to play against Belgium, but stressed that he did not attempt to reverse the red card himself. “I can’t tell you how many messages I’ve had asking me to rescind the red card we received in the early hours of Monday,” he said, adding that such actions were not pursued.
The campaign for a bank holiday follows a mixed response among the public and politicians. In June, Scotland declared a bank holiday to celebrate the country’s first participation in the men’s football finals in decades, a move supported by King Charles III after it was proposed by First Minister John Swinney. The proposal aimed to let Scots mark the major comeback. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch indicated she would likely oppose a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup, arguing that a holiday would not be uniformly beneficial. She noted that while the private sector would continue to operate, the public sector might observe the day off, leaving taxpayers to cover the costs. This debate highlights the broader question of how a potential victory and its celebration would be structured across the United Kingdom, given the different political and economic implications for each region.