On the first day back in Parliament since the Lionesses reached the World Cup final, Munira tabled a motion recognising their awesome achievement.
As the motion references, this was the first time a senior England football side has reached a World Cup final since 1966, when women were still officially banned from playing football by the FA. Read the motion here.
On tabling the motion, Munira said: “Watching the Lionesses’ prowl to the World Cup final and make history was the highlight of many of our summers, so it’s only right that we recognise their enormous achievement on our first day back in Parliament.”
Munira’s motion follows a debate Munira secured and led last year, celebrating the Lionesses’ victory at the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022 (more info here).
The motion, which has been signed by eight MPs, also references the controversial decision by the England teams’ sponsor, Nike, not to reproduce goalkeeper Mary Earps’s kit. The England No. 1 not only kept the Lionesses in the game in the final with an impressive penalty save, but also went on to win the Golden Glove for the tournament.
Off the pitch, the Lionesses have been campaigning tirelessly to level the playing field so that young women and girls have equal access to the joys of sport, including by writing an open letter to the Conservative leadership candidates, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, after their Euros success last summer.
On International Women’s Day in March, the Secretary of State for Education attended a football session at Heathfield Junior School in Whitton to announce a package of measures to honour the Lionesses’ legacy. Munira’s motion aims to ensure the Government makes good on that promise.
Munira said:
“Each and every one of our Lionesses did us proud right up until the final whistle, including the phenomenal Mary Earps and local legend Lauren James, who started her footballing career whilst a student at Twickenham School.
“Our Lionesses delivered an unforgettable run for us at the World Cup. It’s time the Government delivered for them by levelling the playing field and ensuring every child has access to 2 hours of PE per week at school.”
“With only two-thirds of schools currently offering football to girls, there will be thousands returning to PE lessons this September dreaming of making stops like Mary Earps or scoring stunners like Hemp and Toone. My motion calls for every little girl to have that opportunity.”
Munira at a football session at Heathfield Junior School in Whitton
