Proms goers may face body searches
NewsWe hear that staff at the Royal Albert Hall have been instructed to refuse admission to anyone carrying a flag larger than 10×10 inches.
If they suspect a person is carrying such a flag they may ask to conduct a search. The tolerance of concertgoers is kindly requested.
Since this is not normal policy at the RAH, we must assume the measure emanates from the BBC,which is terrified of any mass waving of EU flags, the sight of which would inflame Tory sensitivities.
UPDATE: The RAH advise us that there has been no change to their Last Night policy on flags, which can be found here.
I assume they are even more terrified of proudly enlarged Union flags, and the cross of St George?
The Greek/Turkish Saint? That country in the EU?
Just sneak in a load of 10’x10′ flags and a sewing kit…
Of course, I meant 10″x10″!
My bag was searched last Friday. I had no flags and was allowed to attend the concert.
Presumably you are referring to the Last Night of the Proms. Hard to see why an EU flag would be appropriate there.
The late Tony Benn, who was a left-winger, was against the EU because he saw it as undemocratic and unaccountable.
Its a free country mate….or is it?
Yes, but with freedom comes many responsibilities and a respect for others.
Tony Benn’s credentials as a Democrat don’t stand up. He was consistently opposed to electoral reform in the UK.
I suspect that his concern about the eu was more to do with opening up the Labour markets. That was why unions opposed it by and large. Not exactly international brotherhood
Bags are always searched at the RAH as they are at Opera North in Leeds, the Bridgewater in Manchester, and Covent Garden.
I will bring any flag I want, in the past I’ve taken German, Mexican, Namibian, City of Hamburg, EU and British flags.
It’s none of your business how people choose to express their sense of identity in this concert.
Or Ukrainian flags? Or Russian ones?
More like it than EU ones, and Afghanistan.
all places of entertainment. including
lecture halls. should check everybody
that comes in.
like in Israel
Even better, do what they do in Singapore and render all mobile phone signals inside concert-halls null and void. I’m tired of the insatiable need that many here in the UK have to tap away even when a performance has started or read texts mid-performance or wave their camera smartphones in the direction of the platform whenever the fancy takes them.
The worst is people tapping a phone while
Eating.
Blocking signals doesn’t stop people taking pictures, also blocking signals dos emergency messages reaching people, something that may be important in places with a big crowd.
Yes, people behaving like unruly teenagers is annoying, but often of you let them know they are annoying you they stop.
It might piss off the Tories but even more so the rest of us who voted out of the EU. If the “remoaners” don’t like the result of the referendum then that is their problem, because it aint going to be held again. And if they are so desperate to be close to our European neighbours perhaps they might consider relocating to one of those member countries who will no doubt welcome them with open arms (France perhaps, our warm and empathetic neighbour). Personally, I am all in favour of free speech and the right to demonstrate and would not ban these flags. If they want to stand at the front waiving their little EU flags and wearing their Pink Eddie Izzard berets then so be it.
@Ellingtonia – how very triggering. It’s hard to know where to start with your fatuous post, but I do have a few comments and questions that you can perhaps help with. Firstly, why anyone would do anything other than celebrate the fact that this issue “pisses off” those who “voted out of the EU”, given the garbage that has brought down on everybody’s heads (sadly, not just theirs)? Then, why you think the result of the god-forsaken referendum is somehow sacred and “aint [sic] going to happen again”? Dream on, if you think that the likes of you and your mascot Nigel Farage can go on and on about the EU and force an ill-conceived referendumb and then imagine that’s going to be the last word. Then what exactly is a “remoaner”? Is it the opposite of a quitter – which, presumably, is what you are? Then why those who think like you repeatedly trot out the idea that those who did not vote for the predictable crappiness that is Brexit should relocate out of the country? After all, you’re the ones who voted leave, so surely leaving is your prerogative: this is my country, and I’m staying – sorry. Then, finally, what any of this has to do with Eddie Izzard and berets – specifically, pink ones? Or perhaps I can infer that from the sum total of the rest of your remarks.
Grow up, you lost the vote. Definition of remoaner “someone who is cognitively impaired to be able to understand and accept that a decision they disagree with should automatically be reversed”. As regards Izzard, just watch his performance on question time about Brexit and his attire! You have to laugh.
Is anyone suggesting it should “automatically” be reversed? Please mention three people who have asserted this.
See above!
They haven’t said it should be “automatically” reversed. You were the one who introduced “automatically” here. So you still haven’t named three who have said it should *automatically* be reversed. What do you mean by “automatically” here, anyway?
@Ellingtonia – “grow up”, “you lost” – oh dear – your quitter’s bingo card is overflowing (though you missed “get over it”). As for cognitive impairment, try reading your definition of ‘remoaner’ again, but this time for syntax and sense. And as for Eddie Izzard, I hadn’t realized you were so fixated on Brexit that you were reaching back to a particular edition of ‘Question Time, but thank you for the tip. I’ll try to catch it, as I expect I’ll love it, not least in the knowledge that it clearly wound you up.
I can see the UK begging to be let back in within a decade. The place is falling apart. Fruit rotting in fields, massive inflation, huge blocks to trade.
It’s all going swimmingly
Inflation rates for the year to July 2022;
UK – 9.4 %
Euro Area 8.9% (source Eurostat)
Pray take a look at percentage increases in the energy prices in the EU and then compare them with the UK. If we hadn’t uncoupled ourselves so disastrously, the UK wouldn’t now be in such a perilous situation.
Making the UK’s own citizens unwelcome by asking them to leave these shores: don’t be a donut Karen. Democracy carries on and so do debates. Political alignments and nationhood are always in flux, as the Ukraine debacle has proved. If you don’t like Brexit being questioned, it is you who should leave, for Russia.
Oh, and by the way, immigration is bigly up from 2017: another Brexit win!
Perhaps you would care t9 finally move on instead of being so embitttered. The Civil War finished nearly four centuries ago.
I don’t imagine that the BBC is against EU flags. Large flags and banners can be a huge distraction in the concert hall. Personally I would ban audiences from having food and drink during a concert – the RAH boxes always seem to be full of people rustling papers and clinking glasses or staring at their phones (the screen light is very annoying).
Probably a good idea to ban flags over a certain size as they get in the eye line of people behind them.
That simple.
Your proposal is very inconsiderate. A concern for whether the people behind can see would inhibit the exercise of the human right to give a standing ovation, which is so happily exercised at so many theatrical performances these days. Don’t you realise that my right to substitute-participation in the show by leaping to my feet and sharing love with the performers trumps everything else, especially your right to watch the show unimpeded?
Well given the attempted murder of Salman Rushdie at an event with utterly lacking security, and given the extremist views around, I think preventing flags beyond a certain dimension might not be such a bad idea. After all big flags could conceal other less innocent things.
Why not ban books as well…they do after all conceal ‘less innocent’ ideas.
As if size is the only thing that matters.
As Frank Costanza used to say (actually to scream): Serenity Now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW_s6EqOxqY
The BBC poodles need to stop supporting the Tories! Already they’ve given us a lacklustre, Brexity festival this year.
Bring your big flags guys!
Banning EU flags at the Proms: can you imagine that? Mustn’t upset the gammons and remind them of the inextricable link between Europe and the greatest music ever compared Last night is for Kevs and Karens, utter cultural garbage.
Europe and the EU are not one and the same.
“Conduct” a search? Very droll.
I miss being able to smoke a pipe during concerts. They should re-introduce that.
Remembering the Proms in 1968…one of the most seminal
musical events in my life……and now all this………..
If you’re more concerned about flags than music,stay away.
Is that a flag in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? No. Really. I’m gonna have to take a look;)