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Major calls for Bank Holiday if England Lionesses win Euro 2025 as Keir Starmer faces pressure following 2022 decision

Major calls for Bank Holiday if England Lionesses win Euro 2025 as Keir Starmer faces pressure following 2022 decision

The Sun24-07-2025
PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to grant the nation a Bank Holiday if England win Euro 2025.
The Lionesses face Spain in Sunday's final at 5pm from Basel, Switzerland.
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England beat Italy in the last-four via dramatic goals by Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly after seeing off Sweden in the quarters with a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Sarina Wiegman 's side are looking to win back-to-back Euros, having lifted the trophy in 2022.
Starmer was the leader of the opposition when the Lionesses lost the World Cup final to Spain in 2023.
He called for a Bank Holiday to celebrate if they won, tweeting before the game: "It's almost 60 years since England won the World Cup.
"I'm never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home."
After the men's side reached the Euros final last summer, he said: "We should certainly mark the occasion, I don't want to jinx it."
The PM is now facing calls to stick by his words and hand millions a day off if the Lionesses win.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson is leading the pressure, saying: "The Lionesses can make history on Sunday and retain the Euros title they won so memorably three years ago.
"If they do that, the Prime Minister should give us a Public Holiday to honour their achievement.
"Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements.
England stars cheekily celebrate with pizza in stands after dumping out Italy
"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.
"The Prime Minister is a football fan - we've all seen the pictures of him enjoying a kick around with his mates.
"If Wiegman's heroes deliver glory, we'll all be hoping he'll put the ball into an empty net by giving the Lionesses and the rest of us a chance to mark the occasion.
"A Bank Holiday would also give our hospitality industry a much-needed assist and boost."
The Conservative Party did not give the nation a Bank Holiday after the Lionesses' previous Euros triumph three years ago.
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