Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out granting an extra bank holiday to celebrate the Lionesses' Euro 2025 victory, despite previously calling for one in 2022. The decision comes as No10 made a confusing joke about the team's success.
Asked about a bank holiday, the PM's official spokesman said: "If we had a bank holiday every time the Lionesses win, we would never go to work." This remark was met with criticism, as a bank holiday has never been granted for the team's wins. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called it a "missed open goal."
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds earlier suggested a bank holiday costs the UK economy too much, stating: "Don't make me the fun police, but they do cost a few billion pounds to the economy." He praised the team's "absolutely magnificent" performance.
The Lionesses will be honoured with a special reception at Downing Street today and an open-top bus victory parade through central London tomorrow. Deputy PM Angela Rayner said it would be "a privilege to celebrate this amazing win with them."
