Sir Keir Starmer has previously backed calls for a Bank Holiday if England’s Lionesses lift the trophy
Sir Keir Starmer had previously backed calls for a football Bank Holiday (Image: Getty)
The government has given an official response to the calls for a new Bank Holiday on Monday, July 28 following the Euro 2025 final between England and Spain in an apparent U-turn by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
England’s Lionesses have roared into the final of the women’s Euros competition after a dramatic extra-time win over Italy on Tuesday. It means that England are now just 90 minutes away from lifting the trophy and potentially sparking wild scenes of celebration up and down the country.
A change has already been made to the laws this Sunday to allow pubs in England and Wales to open until 1am to allow football fans to celebrate – or commiserate – into the early hours of the morning whatever the result is on Sunday evening.
But some MPs have gone a step further, calling for a new Bank Holiday to be put in place on Monday, July 28, the morning after the final, if England do win.
Liberal Democrats’ culture and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said to the BBC: “Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team.
“A bank holiday would also give our hospitality industry a much-needed assist and boost.”
There was no Bank Holiday in place in 2022 when England’s women lifted the Euros trophy for the first time, but the leader of the opposition at the time, Sir Keir Starmer, backed calls for a Bank Holiday. He had called the idea ‘a proper day of celebration’.
When England’s women reached the World Cup final in 2023, he posted on Twitter: “there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home”.
But the Prime Minister’s spokesman has confirmed to the BBC that there are ‘no plans’ in place for an extra Bank Holiday this Monday in an apparent change of heart.
England players have described this campaign as a roller-coaster, beginning with a crushing loss to France that left their title defence hanging by a thread, then the high of dominant wins over the Netherlands and Wales before they fought their way through topsy-turvy, back-to-back spectacular comebacks in the knockout rounds.
Now 90 minutes away from lifting their second major trophy, the Lionesses are set for their toughest test yet as they face the same side that beat them 1-0 in the Sydney World Cup final two summers ago.
