'He sounds like he's holding in a fart': England fans have their say on General Election

When England fans gathered to watch Gareth Southgate's Three Lions in their second Euro 2024 group match against Denmark on Thursday (June 20), they were probably expecting to talk about the decision to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield or how to get the best out of Phil Foden. But amidst the football excitement, MyLondon spoke with fans at Boxpark Croydon about their views on the most pressing issues for the upcoming general election.

Football fans may prioritise their sport, but they also have strong opinions on the country’s direction. Croydon East is one of London’s newest constituencies, following the boundary changes of 2023. Opinions varied widely among the fans we approached. Some focused on personal concerns, while others considered broader national issues.

READ MORE: MyLondon's big General Election survey - have your say on London transport, NHS and cost of living

Craig Smith, 31, said: “For me, personally, the biggest issue is corporation tax and the value added tax rates for small businesses. But I appreciate that's probably not the general population's view.”

Whereas Oliver Jarman, 28, commented: “What the UK needs is for someone to give the hard truth about tax and spending. We've got Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak essentially saying the same thing, which is what we want to hear. But I think there's a mood in the country that we need to have the hard truth said to us.”

He added about the candidates: “I think Keir Starmer is a robot, and it always sounds like he's holding in a fart. And Rishi Sunak is a... What is Rishi Sunak?”

Other popular concerns included immigration and youth support. Karl Grover, 42, said: “I think immigration is the biggest issue. I think we're letting people in that shouldn't be coming in. But I also understand that there's people that just wanna come here for a better life.”

Jordan Riley, 21, said: “I feel like young people need better help when it comes to education and money issues.” Will Powell, 28, emphasised an international hot topic - climate change - voicing the need for a dedicated political party to bring this issue into mainstream politics.

While the main focus was on football, the fans clearly had strong political opinions. However, by the end of the match, many admitted they couldn't articulate their views well after drinking one too many pints.

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