Will there be a Bank Holiday if England win UEFA Euro 2024 on Sunday? Many have been wondering after Wednesday’s victory over the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate‘s side set up a meeting with Spain in Berlin on Sunday after a remarkable 91st minute winner from Ollie Watkins, which came after Harry Kane cancelled out a stunning opener from Xavi Simons.
The Three Lions have never actually won a European Championship before, so the unprecedented nature of a potential victory has led thousands to ask if a Bank Holiday is in the offing.
As of now, the UK Government are yet to actually address the question, although it is worth looking back on Boris Johnson’s interesting comments regarding the matter after England reached the final of UEFA Euro 2020…
Bank Holiday if England win UEFA Euro 2024
The same question was asked when England defeated Denmark to reach the final of UEFA Euro 2020 – held in 2021 after the global pandemic delayed the tournament.
Interestingly, Johnson – Prime Minister at the time, of course – hinted that he would grant a Bank Holiday if England managed to beat Italy at Wembley back then.
The Guardian quoted the 60-year-old as saying: “I think that would be tempting fate. Let’s see what happens.”
Johnson’s official spokesperson later added: “I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of Sunday’s match. Clearly we want England to go all the way and win the final, and then we will set out our plans in due course.”
The mention of “plans” in the event of beating Italy back in 2021 suggested that a Bank Holiday would at least be genuinely considered.
Therefore, England supporters can assume that Kier Starmer would also give real thought about declaring a Bank Holiday – especially as he is an avid football fan himself.
What Kier Starmer has already said about Bank Holiday before 2-1 win over the Netherlands
Starmer himself actually called on Johnson to declare a Bank Holiday back in 2021 if England defeated Italy – so it would arguably be quite hypocritical of the new Prime Minister not to grant the nation a day off.
The 61-year-old told the Mirror back in 2021: “The whole country is incredibly proud of what Gareth Southgate and our England heroes have achieved already.
“History has been made. If we win on Sunday, the country should get the chance to celebrate it properly with an extra Bank Holiday, granted in the name of the England team.”
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Therefore, all eyes will quite rightly be on Starmer if England beat Spain to UEFA Euro 2024 glory.