Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and politicians pretending to like football. Today marks the start of Euro 2024, and for the first time since 1970 a UK general election is being held during a major football tournament – a crossover that one X-user has called “Barbenheimer for centrist dads”. Politicians of all stripes, except those west and north of the border, are likely to hitch themselves to the England team and not just because they are well fancied. The squad, parented by police officers, builders, receptionists, plumbers, businessmen, plasterers, and cashiers, is a picture of modern Britain. Twenty two of the 26 players went to comprehensive schools. Brought up on farms and council estates, in big cities and tiny villages, many came from nothing. If politicians want to speak to a broad church, they could learn a lot from the England squad.
