TWO Scottish MPs from SNP and Labour celebrated Argentina's win over England together in what they dubbed "cross-party cooperation".
SNP MP Lara Bird and Labour representative Euan Stainbank were pictured cheering on Argentina's dramatic 2-1 victory over Thomas Tuchel's men in a Westminster bar as England were thrown out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage.
It was a display of unity between opposing politicians after Scottish Labour ’s Western Isles MP Torcuil Crichton also raised the game in the Commons , asking if those “on the SNP benches will find it in their hearts to put political division aside at 8 o'clock tonight”.
Labour Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander then begged Scots to offer their support to England in the Commons, saying he "always believed to be pro-Scottish, you don't need to be anti-English".
Bird has endured a flurry of abuse since becoming MP, both for her accent and for saying she wasn't supporting England in the World Cup.
Cross party cooperation 🏴🤝🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/WpbzPioVpt
— Lara Bird SNP (@larabirdsnp) July 15, 2026
After winning the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election last month, she not only found herself under attack from right-wing commentators for crossing her fingers while taking the oath, she then faced abuse for how her accent appeared to change from a pre-election English accent to an unmistakably Scottish one when she was sworn in.
Last week, she also faced criticism for saying she did not support England against Mexico in the World Cup.
A BBC host asked her: “I mean, you are half Scottish, half English. Were you supporting England on Sunday, the other night [in their match against Mexico ]?”
The SNP MP responded: “I was not supporting England the other night, no."
The BBC host then pushed: “Were you actively supporting Mexico? Or just a neutral?”
Bird went on to say she would probably be supporting Norway, who were eventually defeated by England, in the quarter-final.
England went ahead in the semi-final via a goal early in the second half from Anthony Gordon, but fell to defeat following two late goals from Argentina which will see them play Spain in the final on Sunday in New York.
England will instead play France in the third and fourth place play-off in Miami on Saturday.
