The history of UK politics is riddled with politicians who have made stilted attempts to court votes among football fans, but Sir Keir Starmer’s love for the game is genuine.
A former season ticket holder at the Emirates, the prime minister – who announced his resignation on the steps of Downing Street today – gifted then-US president Joe Biden an Arsenal shirt during his 2024 visit to the White House.
Starmer also attended England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain just a few days after his general election victory, and he played small-sided games regularly until his public profile made that impractical.
And it was on his watch that the historic Independent Football Regulator, which has backstop powers to introduce new financial rules and kick rogue owners out of clubs, came into law.
Famously, some sections of the England fanbase did not take to the prime minister, long before the majority of the electorate and Parliamentary Labour Party arrived at the same conclusion.
Indeed, FIFA have threatened to eject England supporters who chant or display flags and banners with anti-Starmer messages at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, in line with their tournament-wide policy on political messaging in its stadiums
Incidentally, Starmer’s heir apparent, the new MP for Makerfield, is also a football fan. Andy Burnham is, or at least was, an Everton season ticket holder and, like Starmer, a regular player of the game.
The timing of Starmer’s resignation could have an impact on the World Cup final too. In terms of the optics, at least.
While he announced his departure today, nominations to succeed Starmer as the leader of the Labour Party will close on 16 July, before the House of Commons’ summer recess.
It is likely, therefore, that Starmer will still be in post for the World Cup final in New Jersey on 19 July.
It is customary for political leaders of the nations taking part in the final to attend. It is virtually unheard of for presidents and prime ministers not to show up.
That means, if England get there, one of Starmer’s final public appearances as prime minister will be the World Cup final.
England face Ghana in their second group stage game tomorrow, following an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia on the opening night of Group L.
One of the favourites for the tournament, they conclude the group stages against Panama on 27 June.
