Sir Keir Starmer has hinted that the government might give England an extra day off if the team wins the World Cup, according to the BBC BBC News.

When asked about this idea, the Prime Minister said: "On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don't want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final" BBC News. He did not give a straight yes or no. When politicians talk like this, it often means they are working on something behind the scenes.

If England wins, the bank holiday would probably be Friday 24 July BBC News — five days after the final match on Sunday 19 July BBC News. The five-day gap gives the government time to make it official and tell bosses. But it would still be tight for companies trying to rework their schedules.

First, England has to beat Norway in the quarter-final on Saturday night BBC News. Coach Thomas Tuchel has not taken the team beyond this stage yet in this tournament. A win gets England to the semi-final. The final is still two matches away.

The government can declare a bank holiday fairly quickly in England and Wales — it does not need to pass a new law. The government has done this before for royal occasions. A football-related bank holiday would be less common, but it is possible. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own separate systems for bank holidays, and it is not yet clear if this one would apply across the whole UK.

Why mention it now? It is smart political timing. If Starmer talks about a bank holiday and England wins, he gets credit for a celebration. If England loses, his words about not wanting to "jinx it" protect him from criticism. Both main parties have done this kind of thing before during tournaments.

For businesses, this creates a problem. Companies need to decide how many staff to hire and how much to pay them in late July. But they do not know yet whether there will be an extra day off — it all depends on whether England keeps winning. This is not new; past governments have faced the same issue. It just means HR departments have to wait and see what happens.

The answer will come once England plays the quarter-final on Saturday and, if they win, the final on 19 July. Until then, the government is saying it will not make a prediction.