While no extra bank holidays are expected to be created to mark the England women’s football team’s achievement, Downing Street hinted that the team could be in line for honors in recognition of their success. A picture released by the prime minister showed him watching Sunday’s match from Checkers, his haven of grace and favour, sitting on the floor with his two youngest children around a television. Johnson turned out to cheer on the England men’s team when they were narrowly beaten on penalties by Italy last summer, but was notably absent from the pitch when the women’s team lifted the trophy in record attendance at the culmination of their campaign after winning Germany in extra time. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, traveled to London to support his team and held no meetings with British government ministers before returning home. Asked why Johnson did not do the same, despite being England captain as he watched from the crowd as Gareth Southgate’s side finished second in the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, his spokesman said: “The Prime Minister watched the match at home with, I think, 17.4 million other people.” Foreign Secretary and Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss and culture secretary Nadine Dorries both attended the match. The Lionesses were not invited to the No 10 on Monday as Johnson is away attending the funeral of former Northern Ireland prime minister David Trimble. With the Prime Minister also on holiday from Wednesday to Sunday, it is unlikely that the women’s team will be hosted at Downing Street later this week. Asked if Johnson could not be bothered to support the Lionesses from Wembley, his spokesman said the public “will judge the Government on the support they have given to women’s football”. “This is a government that has remained steadfast in its support of and investment in the women’s game,” they added. “The prime minister is supporting the team throughout and is watching the match with his family at home.” Some believe Johnson may have been avoiding public appearances after his shock while attending the Queen’s platinum jubilee thanksgiving in June and feared similar treatment to George Osborne, who was booed at the Olympic Stadium in 2012. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Asked if Johnson was snubbed by the Lionesses, his rep said no. They left the door open for the women’s team to line up for victories, saying Johnson wanted to “see the team receive the recognition it rightfully deserves for its historic victory.” However, they said it was “a matter for the independent rates committee”. Downing Street said there were “no plans” for an extra bank holiday to mark the achievement. But the base facilities will be renamed after the 23 players who led England to victory, either in their hometowns or places that shaped their footballing careers. Schools will also be encouraged to offer football to girls “as standard”, which the No 10 said was “not happening everywhere”, adding that “significant sums” had already been invested in women’s sport and sport more generally. ‘They are such good role models’: thousands welcome lionesses in Trafalgar Square – video
