'There are 60 million people all asking the same question...'
Sir Keir Starmer has been quizzed in front of the entire nation over whether we can expect a bank holiday if England win Euro 2024.
The recently elected prime minister has faced calls to authorise a national day off should the Three Lions beat Spain and bring it home for the first time in 58 years tonight.
Ed Davey and the Liberal Democrats have led the plea ever since Gareth Southgate’s side came out as 2-1 winners over the Netherlands in the semi-final on Wednesday.
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Mr Starmer previously admitted ‘we should certainly mark the occasion’ in some way but didn’t want to ‘jinx anything’.
And during ITV’s live coverage of the final in Berlin this evening, he was questioned about it again by Manchester United legend and pundit Gary Neville.
‘There are 60 million people that are all asking the same question,’ Neville said to Starmer.
‘Are they getting a day off? Are they getting a bank holiday? It’s on you.’
But still remaining relatively coy, Mr Starmer couldn’t be pushed to confirm for sure either way.
‘Well, I don’t know about that,’ he replied.
‘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, but we’ll have to see what that is. An appropriate way.’
Sir Keir previously supported calls for a bank holiday when England’s women’s football team made it to the World Cup final last year.
In terms of the game itself, he said: ‘I think there’s such optimism. I’ve just come from London.
‘It’s sort of breathing optimism, and it’ll be I think in the summer for us to be here and to win this, would just be really fantastic.’
He was also full of praise for both the England manager and squad, adding: ‘You don’t get to the final just by luck. This is hard work. This is talent. This is skill, strategy.
‘And I just desperately hope now that we get that win this evening.’
Lib Dem leader Mr Davey said earlier this week: ‘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.’
So, let’s get Keir on speed dial if England lift the trophy later on and find out whether we’re all getting a lie in.
There is still hope.
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