No 10 brushes off calls for extra bank holiday to mark Lionesses' victory
The Lionesses defended their Euros title in a penalty shootout win over Spain in the final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday.
The Government had already indicated it was unlikely to heed calls for an extra bank holiday to herald England's success.
On Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman attempted to make light of calls for the additional day off work.
'If we had a bank holiday every time the Lionesses win we'd never go to work,' he told reporters.
He added: 'It is a tribute to the success of the Lionesses. The Prime Minister has said how inspiring their incredible victory was last night, and the team has captured the hearts of the nation.
'We look forward to joining the rest of the country celebrating this incredible win.'
The spokesman pointed to the plans for a parade and the Downing Street reception as part of the Government's efforts to ensure the team has a warm welcome on their return to the UK.
Bank holidays have a costly impact on the UK economy, and various governments have been reticent to introduce additional public holidays.
Analysis by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimated the cost of the additional bank holiday to mark Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in June 2022 was £2.4 billion.
Elsewhere, the Prime Minister's spokesman insisted there was an independent process for nominations for honours, when asked about calls for the team to be recognised for their victory.
However, in a rare show of support from the Government for members of the team to receive nominations, he added: 'I hope we'll see lots of nominations for this incredible winning team.
'Many of them were honoured after their incredible Euros win just three years ago, and everyone can see what an amazing job Sarina (Wiegman) and the team have done for this country in terms of its historic win, and women's sport more generally.'
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will host the Downing Street reception for the England team on Monday night.
Asked if Sir Keir Starmer was disappointed not to be at the event, his spokesman insisted the Prime Minister was 'obviously very pleased to be meeting President Trump up in Scotland'.
He added: 'I'm sure he (the Prime Minister) will have a chance to celebrate with them in the future as well.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mirror
Lioness star Chloe Kelly's heartbreaking confession as she admits ‘I was in a dark place'
Chloe Kelly appeared on This Morning on Thursday (July 31) morning after the England team won the Women's Euros 2025 Final Lioness star Chloe Kelly admitted that she 'needed to find happiness again' as she opened up on a 'dark' time that left her falling out of love with football. The 27-year-old appeared on Thursday's (July 31) episode of ITV hit daytime show This Morning alongside hosts Dermot O'Leary and Rochelle Humes following the Lionesses' big win. The team recently made history as they won the Women's Euros 2025 Final for the second time, with Chloe stepping up to seal the deal with the winning goal for England. However it hasn't been a smooth journey for the footballer as she admitted to struggling with her maternal health at the start of the year. Chloe struggled to find her place at Manchester City and admitted that she didn't see 'a future' at the club, before being swooped up by Arsenal. Dermot went on to ask: 'Chloe, you went through a period where you almost quit the game. Did you have enough?' In an emotional moment, Chloe admitted: 'Mentally I was in a really dark place in January and I needed to find happiness again on and off the pitch.' She continued: 'I think that it's really important to look after your mental health and football felt so far away at the time. I went on loan to Arsenal and I found such happiness coming back to London. 'It's my city where I grew up, being closer to my family and everyday stepping onto the pitch with Arsenal I felt like my smile was coming back.' Dermot, who is a proud Arsenal fan jumped in: 'I can't tell you how much that makes me feel so proud to hear that by the way and to hear the words Arsenal.' Chloe replied: 'Thank you. As the months went by I could feel myself smiling again and it's really important as human beings. 'We are footballers but we are also human beings and I think happiness is important and it allows me to be at my best on the pitch.' The star added: 'The Euros felt so far away from me in January because I just wanted to be happy so now to be a European champion is incredible so I'm really proud.'
Sky News
25 minutes ago
- Sky News
Hotel tycoon announces expansion plan for Heathrow Airport which includes shorter third runway
Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora has put forward an expansion plan for Heathrow which rivals that by the airport's owners. The billionaire's Arora Group said they are proposing a shorter new runway which would avoid the costly need to divert the M25 motorway while being able to accommodate aircraft of all sizes. The company said building a 2,800-metre third runway, instead of the full-length 3,500-metre runway planned by the airport, would result in "reduced risk" and avoid "spiralling cost". Arora Group's Heathrow West proposal states the new runway could be fully operational by 2035. The plan rivals one by the airport's own owners, which will be submitted to the government on Thursday, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave her backing for a third runway during a speech in January. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will then review the Airports National Policy Statement, which provides the basis for decision-making on any Development Consent Order application. 3:21 The plan by the hotel tycoon's company also includes building a new terminal which would open in two phases, in 2036 and 2040. The proposal, developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, has a cost estimate of under £25bn, not including the redevelopment of the airport's existing central area. Mr Arora, who is one of the largest landowners at Heathrow, said: "After a decade working with our world-leading design and delivery team, I am very proud that the Arora Group can finally unveil to the UK Government our Heathrow West proposal, which directly meets and supports the United Kingdom's primary objective of unlocking economic growth at the UK's only hub airport, with a strong commitment of doing so on-budget and on-time. "The Arora Group has a proven track record of delivering on-time and on-budget projects including in and around Heathrow airport. "We are delighted that the Government has taken a common-sense approach to invite proposals from all interested parties for the very first time rather than granting exclusivity to the current airport operator, no matter its track record."
Leader Live
30 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Ministers ‘believe' Palestine recognition is compliant with international law
Business minister Gareth Thomas described the decision as a 'political judgment' after a group of peers warned it could be in contravention of international law. Some 38 members of the House of Lords, including some of the UK's most eminent lawyers, have written to Attorney General Lord Hermer about the Prime Minister's announcement. As first reported by the Times newspaper, the peers warned Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to recognise Palestine may breach international law as the territory may not meet the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention, a treaty signed in 1933. Asked whether recognising Palestine is compliant with international law, Mr Thomas told Times Radio: 'Yes, we believe it is. 'In the end, recognition of another state is a political judgment and over 140 countries have already recognised Palestine, and we're determined to do so in September if Israel does not end the violence in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and agree to a lasting route towards a two-state solution, and to no annexation in the West Bank.' In their letter to Lord Hermer, the peers said Palestine 'does not meet the international law criteria for recognition of a state, namely, defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states'. There is no certainty over the borders of Palestine, they said, and no single government as Hamas and Fatah are enemies. Mr Thomas told Times Radio there is a 'clear population' in Palestine and 'we have made clear that we think you would recognise the state of Palestine, and that state of Palestine would be based on the 1967 borders'. In their letter, seen by the PA news agency, the peers added: 'You have said that a selective, 'pick and mix' approach to international law will lead to its disintegration, and that the criteria set out in international law should not be manipulated for reasons of political expedience. 'Accordingly, we expect you to demonstrate this commitment by explaining to the public and to the Government that recognition of Palestine would be contrary to the principles governing recognition of states in international law.' Lord Hermer has previously insisted a commitment to international law 'goes absolutely to the heart' of the Government's approach to foreign policy. Among the respected lawyers to have signed the letter are Lord Pannick – who represented the previous government at the Supreme Court over its Rwanda scheme – as well as KCs Lord Verdirame and Lord Faulks. Sir Keir announced earlier this week that the UK could take the step of recognising Palestine in September ahead of a gathering at the UN. The UK will only refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two month, the PM said.
