Politics

UK’s Lib Dems say they scored on pubs’ added time

Published

2 hours ago

July 5, 2026

LONDON — England may not prevail against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca tonight, but the United Kingdom’s Liberal Democratic Party thinks it has already won the week.

The third-largest party in Westminster is claiming that it delivered late pub-closing times after pressuring Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pass a last-minute law allowing pubs to remain open and keep doling out the booze during the upcoming England World Cup match.

The pub schedule became a matter of national concern of national interest after England’s first knockout victory ensured the team would be playing late Sunday — a 1:00 am kickoff in Mexico City that might not wrap up until 3:45am London time, well past last call. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had been urging local councils to allow later closing times but some held out.

The Lib Dems proposed a national solution that would avoid a patchwork of closing times, with Lib Dem lawmaker Max Wilkinson pressing Business Minister Kate Dearden in the House of Commons on Thursday to grant a last-minute licensing extension, over the objection of Business Minister Kate Dearden.

Starmer backtracked later in the day, announcing that he would keep pubs open until 5 a.m. — by tweaking licensing rules so establishments don’t need to ask councils first. “Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” Starmer said.

But it’s the Lib Dems who want voters to credit them for the change, with leader Ed Davey posting on social media that Starmer was acting on Wilkinson’s “suggestion to keep pubs open for the football.” Emboldened, the party is now pushing another cause — a knighthood for England striker Harry Kane, subject of a parliamentary motion introduced by MP Layla Moran.

Politics

Rick Scott says he’s just trying to help

Published

8 minutes ago

July 5, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Rick Scott says he’s just trying to help

Fresh off his controversial Trump invite, the Florida Republican says he’s trying to make a mark but not trying to challenge John Thune…
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Politics

Inside Lutnick’s back channel with FIFA brass

Published

41 minutes ago

July 5, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was involved in behind-the-scenes conversations with FIFA to get U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban suspended, according to two people familiar with the matter granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

Lutnick has developed close ties with the leadership of soccer’s governing body. He attended a previously unreported dinner in early June with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and a small group of roughly half a dozen attendees, according to the two people.

The dinner underscores the unusually close relationship FIFA has cultivated with Trump administration officials beyond President Donald Trump himself. Lutnick, in particular, has developed a personal rapport with Infantino, hosting the FIFA president in his Commerce Department office and sitting beside him at the match between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina last week where Balogun received the red card.