CONSERVATIVE MP Lee Anderson has confirmed he will not watch Sunday's Euro 2020 final between England and Italy because the Three Lions take the knee.

Anderson, MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, stopped watching England's matches in the tournament because he "doesn't like the taking the knee business".

England's players, and some other nations, have taken the knee prior to every game so far to protest against racism and call for equality.

They have had the full backing of manager Gareth Southgate and the overwhleming majority of supporters, but a small portion have booed the knee and Home Secretary Priti Patel also said people "have the right to boo" the anti-racism gesture.

Anderson drew widespread ridicule for his move to stop watching games, missing England's best tournament run since 1966 and a famous win over Germany to maintain his gesture politics stance.

Labour has also launched a tongue-in-cheek petition calling for Anderson to not watch the match, jokingly saying Anderson, who was born in 1967, "may have been jinxing England the whole time".

Anderson said in a video: “I’ve had a bit of a torrid week actually, lots of emails, a bit of abuse – but that’s normal – about my decision not to watch the England matches.

“That’s my decision, I’m not forcing my views on anybody else.

“I don’t like the taking the knee business, I think it associates with the Black Lives Matter movement – I know the England players don’t think it does but it does, it does to me.

“But that’s their choice to take the knee and it’s my choice not to watch the matches.

“But I will be supporting England on Sunday night… I’m going to check my phone for updates to see if they’ve scored and cheer if they have.

“I hope they win and I hope it comes home.”

The Black Lives Matter movement calls for an end to racism.

In their comedic petition, Labour said: "Sulky Tory MP Lee Anderson hasn't been cheering England's heroes like the rest of us because he doesn't like their simple act of anti-racism.

"As Anderson was born in 1967 we think maybe he's been the jinx all along.

"Reaching our first final since before he was born is such a great feeling. But it's not enough. We want to finish the job on Sunday.

"So we're saying: Anderson, stay away, do the housework, watch Midsomer Murders, anything. And keep up your pathetic one-man boycott for one more game. Come on England!"

Anderson's decision has been met with ridicule, Labour MP Zarah Sultana said: "How much must he must dislike anti-racism to skip the first England final in 55 years?"

Following the semi-final, Rachel Wearmouth said: "Thoughts with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who is missing this beautiful, unifying moment because England players want to do a small 2-second protest against racial injustice. Sad, really."

Several members of England's squad have BAME heritage and have starred in this year's tournament; Raheem Sterling MBE, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford MBE, Jadon Sancho, Reece James, Kieran Trippier, Tyrone Mings, Jude Bellingham, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and the team has been lauded for representing modern Britain throughout the tournament.