PM: I couldn’t watch penalties & I’m not going to final

THERESA May did not watch England’s shoot-out with Colombia as she finds the showdowns too “nerve-racking”.

The Prime Minister saw some of the Three Lions’ epic clash on Tuesday night, but could not watch the penalties.

A senior No10 source said: “She did see some of it. She struggles to watch penalties because it’s a nerve-racking time. She was very pleased with the result.” At Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Mrs May praised the side’s “great performance”. She said that the “very rare and welcome event” led to an “explosion of relief and most of all joy”.

Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesman said the Labour leader followed the match at home in Islington, saying that it “was a magnificent result”, and adding: “He certainly did watch the penalties”.

He continued: “Jeremy believes that if England were to win the World Cup there should be a public holiday.”

Asked yesterday if any ministers would go to Russia if England make it to the final, Mrs May’s spokesman said: “The position is as the PM set out in March.” That month, Mrs May told MPS: “There will be no attendance by ministers at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.”

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman did not rule out him going. He said: “There’s no ban, and Jeremy supports the efforts to support the England team in Russia.”