Keir Starmer shunned an England shirt as he watched the Three Lions’ 1-0 victory over Serbia last night – amid claims aides warned he risked offending the Scots.
The Labour leader donned a plain white t-shirt, while his deputy Angela Rayner and comics Jon Richardson and Matt Forde, all wore England strips as they sat through the nervy clash.
Ms Rayner tweeted a selfie of the four of them after the game, with the caption: ‘Celebrating a vital win with the gaffer. Well done lads!’
But Sir Keir was the only one not wearing an England-branded shirt, even though he is known to own one.
Labour is increasingly hopeful of picking up a hatful of seats north of the border – gains which could guarantee Sir Keir the keys to No10.
Sir Keir Starmer has been ridiculed for not wearing an England shirt as he watched the Three Lions’ 1-0 win against Serbia at a pub with Angela Rayner and two comedians
The Labour leader watched the game at the pub as Jude Bellingham gave England a 1-0 win
Sir Keir was not wearing an England-branded shirt, even though he is known to own one (picture watching a match in 2021)
Another social media user photoshopped an England badge onto his white shirt.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also posted a photo of him watching the tight game. He also failed to wear an England shirt but had two St George’s flags in a pint glass on the table at the pub he was at.
He wrote: ‘Tense finish but they got the job done. Jude Bellingham is something special. Onto the next one!’
Ahead of kick-off, he said: ‘Come on England! We’re all behind you. Make us proud.’
Sir Keir also wished Gareth Southgate’s side well, saying: ‘There is no feeling like the build up to the first England game of an international tournament: the pubs filling up, the flags waving, the nerves and excitement building.
‘As fans up and down the country get ready for kick off, I want to wish Gareth and the team all the best on behalf of the Labour Party.
‘We will be with you for every twist, turn and VAR decision. England is behind you. Make it a summer to remember.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted an edited picture to show him with his arm around Southgate on X with the caption: ‘Good luck tonight @England!’
England fans were left jubilant Bellingham starred in the 1-0 victory to begin the national team’s Euro 2024 championship campaign with a win – albeit a nervy one.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also watching the game at the pub. He had two St George’s flags in a pint glass but did not wear an England shirt either
The 20-year-old star’s powerful header in the 13th minute rewarded England with their opening and only goal, followed by chants of Beatles classic Hey Jude in Arena AufSchalke.
Fans in pubs, bars and fan parks in England and Germany hailed the performance of the Stourbridge-born Real Madrid player who was made man-of-the match.
Praising the young star, England manager Gareth Southgate said Bellingham ‘writes his own scripts’ and England captain Harry Kane said he was an ‘unbelievable player – he deserves all the praise he’s getting at the moment’.
Thousands of Three Lions fans descended on Gelsenkirchen, in western Germany, to support Southgate’s men in their opening Group C match, as millions more watched from home.
One England fan labelled Bellingham a ‘generational talent’ as drinks flew through the air amid celebrations at Wembley Boxpark which spilled out onto the streets with spirited chants of ‘it’s coming home’.
Celebrating with his friends, Daniel Dunne, 32, from Colchester said: ‘He is a generational talent.
‘He got the goal. He has to start, it doesn’t matter where we play him.’
England’s Euros 2024 campaign got off to the best start as the Three Lions took all three points
Tension was building in the second half as the Serbs finally found their feet
England fans cheer on the Three Lions at the Greenwich Fan Zone
Passionate England fans go wild after England won their first game of the tournament
Speaking after the match, Bellingham, who was signed for Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in June 2023 for an initial fee of £88.5 million, said he had been aided by ‘a great support network’.
He told the BBC: ‘Jude Bellingham is made up of amazing people, really.
‘It’s not just me who turns up and I’m able to play football and just enjoy it like I do, it’s because I have such a great support network – my family, my friends, my teammates, you know here and in Madrid.
‘So, I’m just so fortunate and the football’s the easiest part.’
England will take on Denmark in their next group stage match on June 20.