JAMES CLEVERLY today vowed to “look into” extending pub opening hours for the Euros.
On Sun show Never Mind The Ballots, the Home Secretary confirmed his team are consulting on gifting punters more time in boozers over summer.
He’s expected to make a formal announcement confirming the move next Tuesday.
Mr Cleverly told host Harry Cole: “I will certainly look into it.”
With the Home Secretary’s say so, pubs could be allowed to stay open until 1am if any of the home nations make it to the semis or final.
With host nation Germany one hour ahead of UK time, it will mean fans can watch evening kick-offs over a pint without the fear of having to exit the pub if a game goes to extra-time or penalties.
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England — runners-up to Italy two years ago at Covid-delayed Euro 2020 — will make the finals after topping their group with captain Harry Kane banging in eight goals.
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Scotland also qualified.
England are one of the favourites to win the competition.
If Gareth Southgate’s squad manage to storm to victory it will be England’s first major trophy since 1966.
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Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, insisted longer opening hours would gift fans with a “bumper summer”, while giving a much needed boost to the struggling booze sector.
She said: “The Government consultation looking into allowing pubs to extend their hours to cover the semi-final and the final during the upcoming Euros is something that received overwhelming support and we look forward to the Government now putting in place the regulations needed as soon as possible.
“Reducing the red tape that pubs would otherwise have to undertake is one of the little ways that the Government can reduce some of the costs of doing business.
“There are many more, but with this easement the beer and pub sector is looking forward to a bumper summer of sport and let’s hope that pub goers can enjoy these extended hours, especially if England and Scotland get to the semis and maybe even meet in the final.”
Alongside discussing longer opening time for boozers, ex-Foreign Secretary spoke to Harry about drug taking and kebabs in a round of quick fire questions.
The Home Secretary confessed to dabbling with illicit substances “decades ago”.
He admitted: “(I last did drugs) many, many decades ago.”
Mr Cleverly said he prefers a doner kebab to a shawarma and would go for an Indian takeout over Chinese.
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Asked to pick between the Home and Foreign Office, he replied: “It’s like asking which of my two sons I love the most.
“I’m really lucky to have had the chance to serve in two amazing offices of state with two amazing departments doing two incredibly important jobs.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
