Members of Parliament (MPs) across the political spectrum expressed their jubilation on social media following England's World Cup triumph, with many noting they had watched the match live. The nation awoke to congratulatory messages from politicians nursing sore heads and weary eyes after the team's victory.
The timing of the match, a 2 a.m. UK-time kickoff against Mexico which was delayed from an earlier start due to thunderstorms, proved advantageous for MPs. The House of Commons was not scheduled to convene until 2:30 p.m. on Monday, allowing those who stayed up for the game some respite before parliamentary duties.
Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston shared an image of an empty Westminster Bridge on Monday morning with the caption, "Where is everyone?" He was among the politicians who stayed awake for the match, which saw England secure a significant victory against the host nation at the Azteca stadium.
Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham were among the notable figures who stayed up to watch the game. Starmer described it as "one of the greatest England matches I've ever seen," adding, "We are through to the quarter finals!" Burnham had encouraged fans to take advantage of the occasion, urging them to "make the most" of the World Cup showdown despite it being a "school night."
Labour MP Stella Creasy humorously noted the challenges of the morning after, stating she had "no idea how I do the school run this morning after a red card and a penalty…" and described her state as being "like having had ten espressos and a red bull chaser."
Employers nationwide were anticipating staff arriving late or fatigued, or not at all, due to the late-night match. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had also appealed to parents, urging them not to let children skip school in the wake of the game.
