Bank Holiday petition LIVE – Latest as 325,000 demand day off on Monday if England win Euro 2020 final

More than 325,000 Brits have signed a petition calling for an official day off on Monday if England win the Euro 2020 final.

The petition was launched after a nail biting 2-1 extra-time victory over Denmark, with Gareth Southgate's men set to battle it out with Italy this Sunday from 8pm.

The petition was set up on the Parliament website yesterday and has now passed the 300k mark and rising – and any submission that passes 100,000 signatures can be considered and debated by Parliament. 

Follow our bank holiday petition live blog below for the latest updates…

• Joseph Gampjust now

  GRAPHIC: ENGLAND V ITALY – HEAD TO HEAD

  

• Joseph Gamp36 minutes ago

  DRINKING LAWS EXTENDED BY 45 MINUTES FOR SUNDAY'S EURO FINAL

  Boris Johnson has extended Sunday drinking laws this week by 45 minutes so supporters can cheer on Harry Kane's boys if the match eats into extra time or penalties.

  It means boozers will be allowed to stay open until 11.15pm rather than shutting at 10.30pm.

  England are now favourites against the Azzurri amid a betting spree at bookies.

• Joseph Gamp57 minutes ago

  WATCH: JACOB REES-MOGG RECITES THE JOHN BARNES RAP FROM WORLD IN MOTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Jacob Rees-Mogg recites the John Barnes rap from World In Motion in the House of Commons

• Joseph GampToday, 12:18

  TRANSPORT SECRETARY GRANT SHAPPS SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO JINX THE EURO 2020 FINAL BY DISCUSSING BANK HOLIDAYS

  Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says he doesn’t want to jinx the Euro 2020 final by discussing bank holidays

• Joseph GampToday, 12:14

  WHAT TIME WILL THE EURO 2020 FINAL BE OVER?

  The match will be over by 10pm if it is settled in normal time.

  However, the prospect of extra time and a penalty shoot-out could mean the game would finish closer to 11pm.

  Mr Johnson has already said pubs can stay open until 11.15pm this Sunday to reduce the risk of customers being told to leave before the match ends.

• Joseph GampToday, 12:02

  ‘A HISTORIC WIN SHOULD BE CELEBRATED’

  Continuing on his reasons for setting up the petition, Lee Jones said: “Furthermore, a historic win should be celebrated.

  “It would be expected for the winning team to parade the trophy, and a bank holiday would be a perfect time to do this.

  “Also, English people would naturally want to continue to enjoy the win, giving the retail and leisure industry a much-needed opportunity to make up lost revenues.”

• Joseph GampToday, 12:01

  ‘A HISTORIC WIN SHOULD BE CELEBRATED’

  Continuing on his reasons for setting up the petition, Lee Jones said: “Furthermore, a historic win should be celebrated.

  “It would be expected for the winning team to parade the trophy, and a bank holiday would be a perfect time to do this.

  “Also, English people would naturally want to continue to enjoy the win, giving the retail and leisure industry a much-needed opportunity to make up lost revenues.”

• Joseph GampToday, 11:49

  TUC BOSS URGES FLEXIBLE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOOTBALL FINAL ON SUNDAY

  Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC (Trades Union Congress), said: "Bosses should talk to their staff about flexible working arrangements ahead of Monday morning – perhaps allowing them to start later and claim back their time afterwards.

  "And bosses should show flexibility too towards the 2.2 million workers who work on a Sunday – many of them key workers.

  "Many of them will want to watch the match, and they should be able to, either at work or by finishing early and making up the time."

• Joseph GampToday, 11:30

  NO MANIC MONDAY IF ENGLAND WIN EUROS, WITH BOSSES URGED TO GRANT FREE LIE-IN

  People across England may have a delayed start to their working week should the national men's football team triumph at Euro 2020 this weekend.

  Employers have been urged to consider allowing staff to enjoy a lie-in on Monday due to the Three Lions' participation in the European Championship final against Italy on Sunday night.

  Victory at Wembley would mark the men's football team's first major tournament win since the 1966 World Cup. It comes as momentum for a national day off in the event of glory continues to grow.

  The mechanics for a Bank Holiday this Monday seem unworkable, given the short turnaround between the final ending late on Sunday night and when the day off would come into effect, potentially an hour later.

  Instead, businesses may consider flexible working hours in order to allow staff to sleep off any celebratory or consolatory side effects.

• Joseph GampToday, 11:20

  GEOFF HURST ‘WENT HOME AND CUT THE LAWN’ THE MORNING AFTER 1966 WORLD CUP TRIUMPH

  Sir Geoff Hurst said: “Many of the crowd on Sunday will have had issues relating to pandemic – that does elevate this game particularly.”

  And after the win 55 years ago, he said celebrations were much more mundane.

  “I went home the morning after the game, cleaned the car and cut the lawn – that’s what you did in those days,” he said.

• Joseph GampToday, 11:14

  EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY PETITION NOW OVER 320,000 SIGNATURES

  

• Joseph GampToday, 10:53

  ONE IN FOUR BRIT WORKERS BOOKED MONDAY OFF

  Fan fever led to around one in four of the nation’s 32m workers to schedule annual leave on Monday – double the number on normal Mondays in July.

  And plenty of bosses will be lenient with their staff, while some schools say kids can come in late without punishment.

  HR experts and unions yesterday urged bosses to let staff take Monday off to avoid clashes with workers who will phone in sick if denied leave.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:50

  ITALY V ENGLAND ODDS-ON TO BE MOST-WATCHED EVENT IN UK HISTORY

  Sunday's Euro 2020 Final looks set to become the most-watched event in UK history, according to Ladbrokes.

  After 26.3 million people tuned in to watch England v Denmark, the bookies have made it a 4/5 shot that over 32.3 million watch the final against Italy.

  Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "England fans are convinced football is coming home, and it looks like a record number of people will be tuning in on Sunday to hopefully see exactly that happen."

• Joseph GampToday, 10:33

  EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMBRACE FOOTBALL FEVER

  Employers have been urged to embrace the footy feelgood factor set to fuel a £12 billion boost for the economy.

  Beer sales alone this month are worth £1.5 billion with the same being spent on food for England games, Centre for Retail Research studies show.

  Analysts say happy people spend more and are more productive at work – which boosts company turnover injecting up to £9 billion into the economy.

  The Centre for Economics and Business Research said: “The Euros are breathing new life into spending.”

  The Federation of Small Businesses said: “A good run is good for the economy and great for the nation's spirits after the past year.”

• Joseph GampToday, 10:29

  LABOUR'S KEIR STARMER BACKS CALLS FOR EURO 2020 BANK HOLIDAY

  Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also backed calls for a bank holiday this Monday.

  He told The Sun: "Gareth Southgate and our England heroes have made history and made us all incredibly proud.

  “If we win on Sunday, the country should get the chance to celebrate it properly, I’d absolutely back a bank holiday and I hope bosses are flexible on Monday morning.”

• Joseph GampToday, 10:27

  MILLIONS EXPECTED TO PULL SICKIES ON MONDAY

  Millions more are expected to throw sickies, leaving offices, factories, building sites and roads half empty as we recover after the historic soccer showdown.

  Asked if he would urge leniency on cheeky workers turning up late, the PM’s spokesman said: "We would want businesses who feel able to consider it if they can.

  "But we recognise it will vary depending on the business and company."

• Joseph GampToday, 10:25

  BORIS JOHNSON IS CONSIDERING FOOTIE BANK HOLIDAY THIS AUGUST IF ENGLAND WINS EURO 2020 AS EXCITEMENT HITS FEVER PITCH

  BORIS Johnson is considering creating a footie bank holiday in August if England storms to victory in the Euros.

  The Sun has learnt officials are already drawing up proposals for a national day-off so fans can celebrate a Three Lions triumph free from hated Covid restrictions.

  Read more here.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:19

  OFFICE WORKER, 37, SACKED FROM HER JOB AFTER BEING CAUGHT ON TV AT EURO 2020 ENGLAND V DENMARK GAME

  Office worker, 37, SACKED from her job after being caught on TV at Euro 2020 England V Denmark game

• Joseph GampToday, 10:12

  PETITION GAINS 300,000 SIGNATURES IN JUST 24 HOURS

  A PETITION calling for a bank holiday if England wins the Euros on Sunday has passed a whopping 300,000 signatures – in less than 24 hours.

  The man behind the call, Lee Jones, organised the petition just yesterday after arguing it was "beneficial and sensible" to give the country the day off.

  Read more here.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:09

  GEOFF HURST 'WENT HOME AND CUT THE LAWN' THE MORNING AFTER 1966 WORLD CUP TRIUMPH

  Sir Geoff Hurst said: "Many of the crowd on Sunday will have had issues relating to pandemic – that does elevate this game particularly."

  And after the win 55 years ago, he said celebrations were much more mundane.

  "I went home the morning after the game, cleaned the car and cut the lawn – that's what you did in those days," he said.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:08

  SIR GEOFF HURST SAYS ENGLAND WIN 'WOULD BE BIGGER THAN 1966'

  Football hero Sir Geoff Hurst told Good Morning Britain today an England win would be bigger than the victory in 1966.

  "The timing couldn't be better – we're fortunate to hold the semis and finals in this country," he said.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:04

  ONE IN FOUR BRIT WORKERS BOOKED MONDAY OFF

  Fan fever led to around one in four of the nation's 32m workers to schedule annual leave on Monday – double the number on normal Mondays in July.

  And plenty of bosses will be lenient with their staff, while some schools say kids can come in late without punishment.

  HR experts and unions yesterday urged bosses to let staff take Monday off to avoid clashes with workers who will phone in sick if denied leave.

• Joseph GampToday, 10:02

  GRANT SHAPPS DOESN'T WANT TO 'JINX' THE FINAL

  Asked on Sky News about the possibility of Monday being a Bank Holiday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "I wouldn't want to jinx it is what I'd say.

  "Not in my lifetime, I don't think in yours, have we been in this position. I don't want to say anything that's going to make any presumptions at all.

  "Good luck to England on Sunday, we'll all be right behind you."

• Joseph GampToday, 10:01

  PICTURED: LIONHEARTS PACK THE STREETS FOLLOWING ENGLAND'S SEMI FINAL VICTORY

  

   

• Joseph GampToday, 09:57

  PM REFUSES TO RULE OUT A DAY OFF MILLIONS

  Hundreds of thousands of people have added their names – and Boris Johnson refused to rule out a day off for millions of hungover workers.

  The PM remained tight-lipped when quizzed on any plans yesterday.

  He said: “I think that would be tempting fate – let's see.”

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