Everyone could get a day off to celebrate England’s success
Andy Burnham said speculation about a bank holiday if England win the World Cup “might be a bit premature”. Mr Burnham could become prime minister as soon as July 20 if he remains the only candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
The World Cup final will take place in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium in the US on Sunday July 19 at 8pm UK time. If no other candidates step forward, the former Greater Manchester mayor is expected to be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on July 17, the day after nominations for the position close.
But it is understood he would not become prime minister immediately, with the formal handover taking place on the next working day, July 20, in line with the party’s previous practice. England will face Mexico in the round of 16 after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday.
Mr Burnham would not be drawn on whether he would agree to a bank holiday if England win the World Cup. The Makerfield MP told LBC that the England team had “a bit of improvement to do before we can start seriously dreaming of it coming home”.
Asked by Andrew Marr about England’s performance in Wednesday’s victory, the Everton fan said: “We struggled, let’s say. And full respect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I think we might be getting ahead of ourselves.
“There’s a very big game coming up on Sunday. We do have to live in hope. I think, you know, it might be a bit premature to be speculating. It would be a fantastic moment, wouldn’t it, and we can hope and pray that.
“I’m an Evertonian, I do not ever back anything when it comes to football, I don’t do it with England either.”
It comes as the Government announced pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5am for the England v Mexico match that kicks off at 1am on Monday. MPs had called for leeway beyond the 2am extended pub opening hours already in place for England matches during the tournament.
