Hope for more EU flags at Last Night of the Proms

Hope for more EU flags at Last Night of the Proms

News

norman lebrecht

September 04, 2023

After years of fighting the BBC for the right to distribute EU flags at the flagship event, organisers of the protest have received support from the Musicians Union.

Take a look at this exchange:

Comments

  • IC225 says:

    A bit cheap to try and hijack a public event like this for a politicised stunt, and even more so to try and co-opt the union to strong-arm the BBC. As things stand, anyone is free to take whatever flag they like to the LNOTP , and the EU flag has always been well represented before and after the UK voted to leave the EU. Hard to see why this is necessary; there’s a definite air of desperation here.

    • soavemusica says:

      The only institution I respect less than the BBC is EU.

      Oh, and, please, please remember the Pride Flags, the official religion of the state.

  • Gustavo says:

    Rightish populism with fake news about the disadvantages of EU membership caused the UK to leave the EU.

    The EU flag has the same colour coding as the Ukrainian flag. So waiving EU flags at the Proms is also signalling solidarity with the Ukraine in their mission to enter the EU.

    • Darren says:

      No, people had the right to vote what they wanted. They did and we are out. If you wanna stay in, emigrate and leave this country to people who want it.

  • Player says:

    I’m not sure one would look to a trade union representing mainly middle class professionals for sense on this issue, let alone acceptance.

    Is this some way of mitigating their already mixed feelings at their members participating in such a British jamboree? However, I cannot think our membership (or non-membership) of the EU matters in this regard one jot.

    The Last Night… is the Last Night. And seems to be immune to change.

  • Maria says:

    Just using the Proms for a political platform than the simple English tradition of how it stated and goes on. Very boring every year to have this turned into an EU and Rainbow event as of the even worse Eurovision Song Contest.

    • Paul Brownsey says:

      A “rainbow event”? Really? Do explain.

    • Mel Cadman says:

      It is very disingenuous to suggest LNOTP was not hijacked long, long ago for overtly political reasons. i.e. a demonstration of so-called British – in practice English – belief in Empire, imperialism etc. Come on … Rule Britannia! It always made me and many other Scots cringe at this overt display of patriotic Englishness. Like so much else about covert demonstrations of imperialism, effectively conservatism, it’ s well overdue a serious trans-UK appearance and sound.

  • Anonymous says:

    I presume all the remoaners will choke on the words and have a hissy fit when it comes to singing Rule, Britannia!

    • Paul Brownsey says:

      One can enjoy singing it without believing, just as one can enjoy singing hymns without believing.

      • Peter Davis says:

        It has been sung for a very long time to celebrate the Royal Navy making the seas safe from the Barbary Pirates among others. The Barbary Pirates intercepted many European ships and enslaved and sold the people on board to slavery in north Africa. They took slaves from villages around the coast of Britain, even getting over to Ireland and Iceland. Personally, I believe that stopping slavery is a worth singing about.

        • Anthony Sayer says:

          @PD: Wait for the woke, self-hating liberal meltdown as they try to turn that one round to favour their junk ideology.

    • BREXIT BIN says:

      To make it even better, let’s remove the awful ‘Rule, Britannia’ with the wonderful ‘Anthem of Europe’ whilst having the Royal Albert Hall adorned with the beautiful EU flag to let the EU know the little Brexit experiment has thoroughly failed! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    • Mel Cadman says:

      Indeed. Just read the words! Cringe-worthy and oh, so very, very English. If there is such a thing as the UK any longer – personally I doubt it – perhaps an overt celebration of all the nations of the UK would be more appropriate. Anyhow, one’s credentials as an ardent supporter of Brexit place you now in a very, very small minority unless, of course, xenophobia is something you would like to ‘celebrate’!

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    These poor, sad losers. Will they ever get over it? Brexit Derangement Syndrome at its most pathetic.

  • Sermon says:

    EU flag protesters and the Musicians Union, two desperate and impotent bodies find solace in each other.

  • Anonymous Violinist says:

    Dear folks,

    This is mostly aimed the detractors and those bemoaning the “woke removers” and “impotent” MU. Get a grip. Do not dare tell us we are middle class. The way I live does not feel it. Do not dare insinuate that this is virtue signalling. Because our careers have been limited by Brexit and all the things that come with it (which we were assured wouldnt). Do not dare call the trade union impotent. It is the reason you ate able to enjoy the Proms and other events as you do. Having experienced tour processes for Europe and the Middle East this year, I would love to tell you which was easier to participate in and exactly why that is. Have a guess?

    Walk a mile in a musicians shoes, and then wonder why any orchestra you happend to mention the word ‘Brexit’ to would immediately sigh, as one, in utter despair.

    Thank you, and kindly button it.

  • LONG LIVE THE EU!!! says:

    Rule, Britannia should be banned from the proms!!! Sooner we rejoin the EU the better!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE THE WAVING THE BEAUTIFUL EU FLAG AT THE LAST NIGHT!!!!

    • Anthony Sayer says:

      Back in your box, now…

      • guest says:

        The sooner we rejoin, the better it will be for all of us, especially touring musicians, who have lost so much work to this failed idea of ‘Brexit’. It’s great to see the Musicians Union supporting such an important movement! #RejointheEU!!

    • Chappy says:

      You’re claiming that a majority would agree to scrap the pound and sign up to the euro ? They would abandon hand over national control of ­monetary and, logically, fiscal ­policy to the EU ? Pay even MORE to ­Brussels than we were before AND actually sign up to the goal of a federal Europe ?

      Ain’t going to happen. You and I both know it. Thankfully.

  • Danny says:

    Embarrassing now, i voted remain. But many have died under our flag, no flag should be raised higher on these islands.

  • Smark says:

    Given EU attempts to undermine the democratic decision taken by the British people, it’s simply baffling to see supposed British people waving this flag, and doing so WHILST singing
    ‘Rule Britannia’

  • Robin Blick says:

    Born again Brexiteer Starmer will be furious.

  • Martin Housden says:

    Rule Britannia
    Britannia rules F*** all
    Never ever has a country
    Seemed so small

  • Let’s rejoin the EU says:

    And who doesn’t think the sea of EU flags was utterly beautiful during the Last Night!?! It’s saying something – WE WANT BACK IN – let’s pray it happens sooner rather than later!

    And wasn’t ‘Rule Britannia’ ghastly to listen to?! I still don’t understand why it’s still being performed at the last night – IT NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED!!!!

  • Jim Morrison says:

    Why are these idiots wearing masks?

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