England fans set to finally get BANK HOLIDAY if Three Lions win World Cup as No10 draws up plans

ENGLAND will bag an historic Bank Holiday if the Three Lions lift the World Cup, Sir Keir Starmer signalled today. The PM all-but confirmed the nation will get an extra day off if Harry Kane’s boys bring football home. No10 are understood to be planning for a bunk-off bonanza on Friday 24 to tie in with a victory parade in central London. Thomas Tuchel’s squad are looking to end 60 years of hurt by winning the trophy in a final in New York on Sunday July 19. They have to first overcome Norway on Saturday night in what will be a thriller against Erling Haaland’s tournament breakout stars. While Sir Keir is set to hand the keys to No10 to Andy Burnham on July 20, he has the power to declare a national holiday before relinquishing power. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP Asked if he would green-light a Bank Holiday, the PM said: “I don’t want to jinx it… but ask me again if we get to the final.” While he stopped short of formally announcing one, it is understood No10 is planning to reward the nation if England go all the way. Speaking at the Nato summit in Ankara, the PM hailed England’s win over Mexico as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen”. It is a dramatic shift in the PM’s position after previously pouring cold water on any hopes for a Bank Holiday. Most read in Sport Each national day off costs the country millions of pounds in lost productivity and has been so far balked by Downing Street. No10 refused to follow Scotland in giving fans a day off after England’s late-night clash against Mexico this week. But the PM has become more involved in the World Cup since the tournament has progressed. He allowed pubs to stay open until 5am last Monday, and also lobbied the FA to keep the match at the original kick-off time. Footie-mad Sir Keir joked his friendship with Norway’s PM Jonas Gahr Støre would be put on ice for 90 minutes. He said: “I said to Jonas, the Prime Minister of Norway, we’re very strategically aligned. I’m good friends of his. “The Norway-UK relationship is as strong as it’s ever been, and he’s a key individual in the coalitions that we’ve been building. “But for 90 minutes on Saturday evening, we’ll have to go our different ways as we go into that match, and let’s see what happens if we get there.” A victory Bank Holiday would trigger street parties, packed pubs and celebrations across the country. Rather than automatically falling on the Monday after the final, it is expected to coincide with England’s victory parade and official homecoming celebrations. That means it is unlikely to clash with Andy Burnham’s expected first day in No10 on Monday, July 20. The Prime Minister-in-waiting is due to formally take over from Sir Keir that day.