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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay

England fans’ chants cast Keir Starmer as first prime minister to become The Enemy

A police officer guards England fans at the end of the World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
England fans made their voice heard during the World Cup qualifier against Serbia. Photograph: Oliver Bunic/AFP/Getty Images

If you’d told Keir Starmer last summer that just over a year after his election as prime minister he would single‑handedly, and by the sheer force of his own personality, have stopped England fans from singing songs about the IRA and Ten German Bombers, he would no doubt have been delighted. I guess they must really like me then. Phase One Goals. You warned me off, Jeremy, but I knew the Arsenal thing was a good idea.

Either way Starmer has now made this happen. England fans are not singing about those things any more. They are instead singing about him being a wanker and how he should fuck off, something they continued to do this week from Birmingham to Belgrade. So, a partial success then, Sir Keir. Delivery. Pragmatism. Yes, I think we can work with this.

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