Victorious Lionesses are our 'national pride' say MPs and call for squad to be given damehoods following stunning Euros victory
Tory MP Wendy Morton said the entire England women's football team should be honoured, insisting their collective achievement must not go unrecognised - unlike last time they won.
'These girls have done something extraordinary,' she said. 'They are such an inspiration so they absolutely should receive recognition for that.
'It was a team effort, so they should be honoured as a team. Often the people behind the scenes, and those who practice but don't actually get called to play, miss out on the glory - and they shouldn't.'
Fellow Conservative MP Caroline Dinenage also backed calls for official recognition, saying: 'They are our national pride. They showed remarkable resilience, teamwork and strength of character.
'They are a total inspiration and one of our most successful national teams.'
The Lionesses captured the nation's hearts with their run of historic victories, and campaigners say it is time their achievements were properly rewarded.
When they scored their first historic European Championship victory in 2022, just four of the players got gongs.
At the time, honours committee chairman Sir Hugh Robertson said the panel wanted to reward outstanding performances rather than the whole team, as they hadn't won the World Cup.
Yesterday, Labour's Sarah Champion MP said she supported giving damehoods to all players '100 per cent'.
'Their courage and dedication to the game has inspired women and girls across the country to get involved with football,' she said.
'It would publicly show that we recognise and celebrate the achievements of women and girls, and they could do the same.'
Nigel Huddleston, shadow culture, media and sport minister, said 'honours should be lavished upon the lionesses'.
'The purpose of the honours system is to recognise outstanding contributions and achievements, including in the field of sport,' he said. 'The lionesses have certainly been outstanding.
'While not every member of the team may receive an honour this year, I am confident that most will be recognised over the course of their careers - and deservedly so.'
Shadow sports minister Louie French MP added: 'These incredible players deserve to be celebrated and honoured in any way our nation can.'
Tory MP Shivani Raja said recognising the Lionesses would show young girls and future athletes what is possible.
'They have once again shown just how powerful and inspiring women's sport can be,' she said. 'Their incredible performances reflect real strength, determination, and talent. We must keep backing brilliant role models like these.'
Last night, a Downing Street spokesman hinted that members of the victorious team may be recognised in the honours system, saying: 'There is an independent process for nominations, but I hope we will see lots of nominations for this team.'
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Channel 4
13 minutes ago
- Channel 4
Lionesses parade through London crowds after Euros victory
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Telegraph
13 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Everything frowned on in Starmer's Britain is being celebrated thanks to the plucky Lionesses
It is probably sacrilegious to say this, what with the joyous Victory Parade in The Mall, and with a triumphant double-decker, military-band-accompanied route to Buckingham Palace, but the Lionesses didn't really 'win' the final of the 2025 European Championship. It's more that they refused to lose. The second half of Sunday's nail-biting climax saw Spain's annoyingly gifted players pretty much take up residence in England's half – and it's fair to say our girls rarely troubled the Spanish goalkeeper, who saw so little action she could easily have gone off for a coffee, or a pedicure. Many of us hiding behind cushions on the sofa at home were resigned to our fate, thinking glumly that we'd lost to the better team. Except a couple of things were so very annoying that we went on longing, hope against hope, for our underdogs to bite back. The French referee, Frappart, kept falling for the Spaniards' theatrics – such blatant drama queens they could have been the men! – and she penalised England's divine super-sub Michelle Agyemang for a non-existent foul. La vache! Agyemang is a devout Christian, who touchingly fell to her knees in prayer during the penalty shoot-out (worth a try!), but even she may have struggled to find forgiveness in her heart for that cheating lot. And what Briton didn't long for our cheeky girls to overcome the hatchet-faced, towering Spanish manager, Montse Tomé, a terrifying combination of Morticia Addams and Joyce Grenfell. There are friendlier peregrine falcons. In the end, it was the sheer bloody-mindedness what won it. This is where we score, even when not scoring. 'When we were down against Sweden and down against Italy, we f---ing showed grit and determination and we came back,' said Chloe Kelly correctly, if not politely. 'You can't write the English off.' 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How refreshing to hear such a heartfelt endorsement for the English and for England without the obligatory 'multiculturalism' rider to render it palatable to our Leftist overlords. It will make a great victory even greater if the Lionesses give young people the message that pride in your country is a wholesome and rather marvellous thing. A lesson for us all, actually, as we try to rescue our poor island from what feels like irrecoverable decline. Be more Chloe: refuse to lose.
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
What has Starmer demanded of Netanyahu ahead of recognition of a Palestinian state?
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