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| Culture secretary enters row over axing Rule Britannia from Proms | Culture secretary enters row over axing Rule Britannia from Proms |
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| Oliver Dowden says he shares concerns over potential ditching of patriotic anthems by BBC | |
| The UK culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, has intervened in the controversy over the suggestion that the traditional flag-waving anthems Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory might be axed from the Last Night of the Proms because of their perceived links to colonialism. | The UK culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, has intervened in the controversy over the suggestion that the traditional flag-waving anthems Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory might be axed from the Last Night of the Proms because of their perceived links to colonialism. |
| The minister said he shared concerns over the potential removal of the patriotic staples, which he described as “highlights”, and that he had raised them with the BBC. | |
| “Confident forward-looking nations don’t erase their history, they add to it,” he declared in a tweet. | “Confident forward-looking nations don’t erase their history, they add to it,” he declared in a tweet. |
| Dowden’s comments came after Downing Street also waded into the row with a spokesman saying that on similar issues Boris Johnson has been clear that “we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols”. | Dowden’s comments came after Downing Street also waded into the row with a spokesman saying that on similar issues Boris Johnson has been clear that “we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols”. |
| Their remarks follow reports that the BBC is discussing whether to drop the anthems in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, with organisers apparently fearing a backlash because they are said to be associated with colonialism and slavery. | Their remarks follow reports that the BBC is discussing whether to drop the anthems in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, with organisers apparently fearing a backlash because they are said to be associated with colonialism and slavery. |
| Each year, audience members at the Royal Albert Hall in London wave flags while singing Rule Britannia, which includes the line: “Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.” | Each year, audience members at the Royal Albert Hall in London wave flags while singing Rule Britannia, which includes the line: “Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.” |
| The Finn Dalia Stasevska, who is conducting this year’s Last Night of the Proms, is apparently among those keen to reduce the patriotic element of the evening’s repertoire. “Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change,” a BBC source told the Sunday Times. | The Finn Dalia Stasevska, who is conducting this year’s Last Night of the Proms, is apparently among those keen to reduce the patriotic element of the evening’s repertoire. “Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change,” a BBC source told the Sunday Times. |
| With live shows from the Royal Albert Hall kicking off from Friday, reduced orchestra sizes, social distancing and no audiences will make the 2020 Proms a very different experience. | With live shows from the Royal Albert Hall kicking off from Friday, reduced orchestra sizes, social distancing and no audiences will make the 2020 Proms a very different experience. |
| Chi-chi Nwanoku, the founder of the Chineke! orchestra, the majority of whose musicians are black, Asian and from ethnic minorities, has said she would be mortified if the BBC did not axe Rule Britannia. Last month, the classical music critic Richard Morrison singled out the anthems for criticism in a column for BBC Music Magazine, suggesting they were “crudely jingoistic texts”. | Chi-chi Nwanoku, the founder of the Chineke! orchestra, the majority of whose musicians are black, Asian and from ethnic minorities, has said she would be mortified if the BBC did not axe Rule Britannia. Last month, the classical music critic Richard Morrison singled out the anthems for criticism in a column for BBC Music Magazine, suggesting they were “crudely jingoistic texts”. |
| Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has been among those critical of the suggestion the anthems might be dropped, as well as the actor Laurence Fox. | Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has been among those critical of the suggestion the anthems might be dropped, as well as the actor Laurence Fox. |
| A No 10 spokesman said on Monday: “This is a decision and a matter for the organisers of the Proms and the BBC. But the PM previously has set out his position on like issues and has been clear that while he understands the strong emotions involved in these discussions, we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols.” | A No 10 spokesman said on Monday: “This is a decision and a matter for the organisers of the Proms and the BBC. But the PM previously has set out his position on like issues and has been clear that while he understands the strong emotions involved in these discussions, we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols.” |
| The BBC has been contacted for a response to Dowden’s comments. The corporation previously said: “We are still finalising arrangements for the Last Night of the Proms so that we are able to respond to the latest advice in regards to Covid-19 and deliver the best offering possible for audiences.” | The BBC has been contacted for a response to Dowden’s comments. The corporation previously said: “We are still finalising arrangements for the Last Night of the Proms so that we are able to respond to the latest advice in regards to Covid-19 and deliver the best offering possible for audiences.” |