RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: The Dunkirk Spirit's been dumped in favour of illegal migrants
Eighty-five years after 1,000 assorted fishing boats and pleasure craft set off from England to rescue troops trapped on the beaches of northern France, the British government agency charged with protecting our borders was ferrying yet another boatload of military-age migrants in the opposite direction.
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Will there be a Bank Holiday if England win the Women's Euros 2025?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTY fans are dreaming of an extra day off this summer as the Lionesses battle for Euro glory – but will we actually get a bank holiday if England bring it home? With our women's team facing Spain in the tournament, excitement is building across the nation, but don't start planning your long weekend just yet. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Calls are getting louder for women's football achievements to be celebrated Credit: Getty Downing Street has made it clear there are no plans for a bank holiday if England win the Women's Euro 2025. But with mounting public pressure and the petition gaining traction, things could still change if football really does come home. LIVE - Follow all the action from the Women's Euros 2025 as it happens! What Downing Street has said No extra day off is on the cards right now, football fans. Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson has confirmed there are "no plans" for an additional bank holiday should England's women triumph in Euro 2025. When pressed about the possibility of giving the nation a day to celebrate if the Lionesses lift the trophy, Downing Street remained firm in their stance. The PM's team didn't completely rule it out, but made it clear it's not currently on the government's agenda. This will come as disappointing news to many hoping to toast a potential victory with a lie-in the next day. Growing calls for a celebration day Despite the government's position, demands for a national day off are ramping up. The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure to grant the nation a well-deserved bank holiday if our Lionesses bring home the trophy. Women's football news website SheKicks has even launched a petition calling for Monday, July 28th, 2025, to be declared a bank holiday if England emerges victorious. RTE pundit offers optimistic view on growth of women's football amid Euros kick-off The campaign is gaining momentum as more fans back the idea of a proper nationwide celebration. After all, if football's coming home, shouldn't we all be at home to celebrate it? What happened last time? When the Lionesses made history by winning the Women's Euro 2022, the nation erupted in celebration – but we didn't get that coveted day off. Despite the historic victory, the then-government didn't grant a bank holiday, leaving many fans disappointed that they couldn't properly nurse their celebration hangovers. This time around, supporters are hoping for a different outcome, especially with calls getting louder for women's football achievements to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the men's game. How bank holidays work Getting an extra bank holiday isn't as simple as the PM waving a magic wand. Bank holidays in the UK are either set by law or declared by royal proclamation, meaning there's a proper process involved before we can all enjoy a day off. For a special one-off event like a sporting triumph, the government would need to make arrangements fairly quickly, which explains why they're not making promises they might not be able to keep. Planning for businesses and public services would be tight, but not impossible, if our Lionesses do make it all the way. 2 England's women's soccer team celebrated a win at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Credit: AP What fans can do Want that extra day off? You might need to make your voice heard. The SheKicks petition is gathering signatures from supporters who believe a women's football triumph deserves national celebration. Football fans can also contact their MPs or share their thoughts on social media to add to the growing chorus calling for a proper celebration if England lift the trophy. ENGLAND VS SPAIN LIVE - LATEST UPDATES And if all else fails? It might be worth booking that annual leave now, just in case – you can always cancel it if the bank holiday does materialise or if our Lionesses don't bring it home this time. The final decision will likely come down to the wire, much like the tournament itself. So while you might want to keep that Monday free just in case, don't make any non-refundable plans for a long weekend just yet. Either way, our Lionesses deserve the nation's full support as they battle for European glory – bank holiday or not!
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Will there be a Bank Holiday if England win the Women's Euros 2025?
FOOTY fans are dreaming of an extra day off this summer as the Lionesses battle for Euro glory – but will we actually get a bank holiday if England bring it home? With our women's team facing Spain in the tournament, excitement is building across the nation, but don't start planning your long weekend just yet. 2 Downing Street has made it clear there are no plans for a bank holiday if England win the Women's Euro 2025. But with mounting public pressure and the petition gaining traction, things could still change if football really does come home. What Downing Street has said No extra day off is on the cards right now, football fans. Sir Keir Starmer 's spokesperson has confirmed there are "no plans" for an additional bank holiday should England's women triumph in Euro 2025. When pressed about the possibility of giving the nation a day to celebrate if the Lionesses lift the trophy, Downing Street remained firm in their stance. The PM's team didn't completely rule it out, but made it clear it's not currently on the government's agenda. This will come as disappointing news to many hoping to toast a potential victory with a lie-in the next day. Growing calls for a celebration day Despite the government's position, demands for a national day off are ramping up. The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure to grant the nation a well-deserved bank holiday if our Lionesses bring home the trophy. Women's football news website SheKicks has even launched a petition calling for Monday, July 28th, 2025, to be declared a bank holiday if England emerges victorious. RTE pundit offers optimistic view on growth of women's football amid Euros kick-off The campaign is gaining momentum as more fans back the idea of a proper nationwide celebration. After all, if football's coming home, shouldn't we all be at home to celebrate it? What happened last time? When the Lionesses made history by winning the Women's Euro 2022, the nation erupted in celebration – but we didn't get that coveted day off. Despite the historic victory, the then-government didn't grant a bank holiday, leaving many fans disappointed that they couldn't properly nurse their celebration hangovers. This time around, supporters are hoping for a different outcome, especially with calls getting louder for women's football achievements to be celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the men's game. How bank holidays work Getting an extra bank holiday isn't as simple as the PM waving a magic wand. Bank holidays in the UK are either set by law or declared by royal proclamation, meaning there's a proper process involved before we can all enjoy a day off. For a special one-off event like a sporting triumph, the government would need to make arrangements fairly quickly, which explains why they're not making promises they might not be able to keep. Planning for businesses and public services would be tight, but not impossible, if our Lionesses do make it all the way. 2 What fans can do Want that extra day off? You might need to make your voice heard. The SheKicks petition is gathering signatures from supporters who believe a women's football triumph deserves national celebration. Football fans can also contact their MPs or share their thoughts on social media to add to the growing chorus calling for a proper celebration if England lift the trophy. And if all else fails? It might be worth booking that annual leave now, just in case – you can always cancel it if the bank holiday does materialise or if our Lionesses don't bring it home this time. The final decision will likely come down to the wire, much like the tournament itself. So while you might want to keep that Monday free just in case, don't make any non-refundable plans for a long weekend just yet.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Doctors strikes will be banned under the Tories like police and prison officers, vows Kemi Badenoch
Doctors strikes will be banned under a Conservative government in the same way as police and prison officers, Kemi Badenoch has vowed. The Tory party leader today announced she would amend the law to bar the protests as she insisted the British Medical Association (BMA) is 'out of control'. It comes following 11 strikes in the past 18 months which Ms Badenoch said had resulted in patients dying. Her comments were made on GB News amid the ongoing five-day series of strikes by resident doctors in support of a pay claim. Urging Sir Keir Starmer to take similar action, Ms Badenoch said: 'The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action. 'Doctors do incredibly important work. Medicine is a vocation – not just a job. That is why in government we offered a fair deal that supported doctors, but protected taxpayers too. 'These strikes will have a significant economic effect, but they will also mean cancelled operations, worry for families of the sick, and suffering for those who are unwell. We know that previous strike action by doctors even led to some patients losing their lives. 'That is why Conservatives are stepping in, and setting out common sense proposals to protect patients, and the public finances. And we are making an offer in the national interest – we will work with the Government to face down the BMA to help protect patients and the NHS.' Doctors hold lives in their hands. No one should lose critical healthcare because of strikes but that's what's happening now. That's why a Conservative government led by me would ban doctors' strikes, just like we do the army and police. — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 27, 2025 Police, the military and prison officers are banned from taking strike action under the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act. The Conservatives would amend this to include doctors. Action short of a strike such as working to rule and banning overtime would still be permitted - with doctors remaining able to unionise through the BMA, like the police, which has the police federation to represent members' interests. Minimum service levels have also been proposed by the Conservatives, which would aim to ensure a basic service provision in not just healthcare but other essential sectors like education and transport. The party has argued proposed changes would bring the UK in line with other nations such as Australia and Canada who have tighter restrictions on doctors strikes, as well as European nations like Greece, Italy and Portugal that have minimum service levels laws in place across their health services. Under Australia's Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Commission is required to suspend or terminate strike action that endangers the safety, health or welfare of the population. Attempts to block doctors' strike action are likely to be challenged in the courts, specifically under Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Police officers have been banned from taking strike action since 1919 when the Police Act made it a criminal offence and all armed forces members are bound by the King's Regulations which make unionisation illegal. The Conservatives' proposed primary legislation would restrict the ability of for doctors at all levels to engage in strike action as regulated by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. This would be done through exempting doctors from the part of the act that gives the right to strike. The Conservatives said they will also look at introducing back-to-work orders in a similar vein to other European countries. Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'The Conservative Party has always respected the important work that healthcare professionals do, but enough is enough. 'The BMA has taken our NHS hostage and used this Labour Government's weakness to demand more and more – with taxpayers and patients left to suffer the consequences. 'As our health service faces yet another round of damaging strike action, the Conservatives are calling time. If Labour were serious about cutting waiting lists and delivering the health system our country deserves, rather than just kowtowing to the unions, they would back our plans.'
