England lost to Spain in the Football World Cup final on Sunday and in doing so allowed Harold Wilson’s 1966 record to remain safe. Namely that England only win football finals under a Labour Government
The only time England have won the World Cup was in 1966 just months after Harold Wilson had led Labour to a 97 seat majority in the March Election of that year, Wilson noted:
Have you noticed how we only win the World Cup under a Labour government”
He may well have got the line from comedian Mike Yarwood
Wilson was also privately, and correctly, concerned about the impact England’s failure in the 1970 World Cup would have on Labour’s chances in the June General Election of that year. Labour lost.
The Lionesses performance in the World Cup was oustanding but their defeat does allow Keir Starmer to bring forward a positive policy. With a Labour Government in Office history shows England can win a football World Cup. The Tories record remains one of complete defeat.
Did England lose? Dear me. You’d think it might have been mentioned on the BBC.