MORE than 3,000 people in Bradford have signed a petition calling for Monday to be a Bank Holiday if England win Euro 2020.
Across the district 3,022 people had signed the petition by this morning, which has already amassed more than 339,000 signatures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been put under mounting pressure to give people a day off if England beat Italy on Sunday to win Euro 2020.
Lee Jones, the petition's creator, said the final's 8pm kick-off is a difficult time for families to plan to be together, but knowing they had an additional day off the next day in the event of an England victory would allow them that opportunity.
He added: “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.”
However, 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 - some have already said staff will have the morning off.
There have been reports that an extra bank holiday could instead fall on July 19 – the so-called "Freedom Day" on which many coronavirus restrictions are proposed to come to an end – or in August.
The order for any bank holiday would have to come from the Queen.
Bradford South had the most fans calling for a day off with 921, followed by 645 in Bradford East, 583 in Shipley, 560 in Keighley and 313 in Bradfrod West.
England are now just one win away from their first major silverware since 1966 after their 2-1 triumph over Denmark on Wednesday.
Boris Johnson, who watched the game at Wembley with his wife Carrie, has wished the national team the “very best” ahead of the final, but said granting a bank holiday would be “tempting fate”.
Downing Street has said it will set out any celebrations such as a victory parade for the England team “in due course”, but has not confirmed whether plans for a potential bank holiday are in motion behind the scenes.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of Sunday’s match. Clearly we want England to go all the way and win the final, and then we will set out our plans in due course.”
Mr Johnson has already said pubs in England can stay open until 11.15pm this Sunday to allow for customers to watch the end of the game, in the event of it going to extra-time or penalties.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Thomas of Gresford has also called for a statue of Gareth Southgate next to Boudica in Westminster if he leads England to Euro 2020 glory.
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