<
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/10/brexiters-in-outcry-after-crowds-wave-eu-flag-at-last-night-of-the-proms>
"The sight of hundreds of European Union flags at the
Last Night of the Proms
has prompted outrage from Brexiters and a call for the BBC to investigate.
Those waving the EU flag in the Royal Albert Hall appeared to outnumber those
waving the union flag at the event, which is usually a patriotic display,
following a campaign by pro-Europeans.
The spectacle of so many EU flags being waved as the hall belted out
Rule,
Britannia! provoked disgust from leading Eurosceptics.
Harvey Proctor, a former Conservative MP, said it was a “disgraceful” display
and called for an inquiry by the BBC, which organises and broadcasts the Proms.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “BBC must investigate how
so many EU flags were waved & on display at
The Last Night of the Proms.
Disgraceful & misguided BBC messing up a British tradition; a political gesture
which would make Sir Henry Wood turn in his grave. Utterly vulgar & wrong.
Rule Britannia, not Rule EU!”
Isabel Oakeshott, the journalist and rightwing commentator, also posted on X,
saying: “
The Last Night of the Proms appears to be a seething mass of
remainers. Can’t wait for
Rule Britannia.”
Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher and a contributor to the
Daily Telegraph, posted: “Ironic to see some of the audience at
The Last
Night of the Proms waving EU flags while singing
Rule Britannia.
Rule
Britannia represents freedom, sovereignty, and self-determination, all absent
in the European Union. Thank God for Brexit.”
The spectacle was hailed as a success by a pro-European group of music lovers
called Thank EU For The Music who organised the display and said they handed
out thousands of EU flags outside the Albert Hall.
In a Facebook post, it said the the display sent a “powerful signal to the
world that Britain wants back IN!”
In an open letter to Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, the group said the
stunt was a demonstration against Brexit.
“Tens of thousands of music lovers have taken our free European flags into the
Royal Albert Hall for each
Last Night of the Proms in solidarity with
musicians who feel (like countless others) the destructive impact of Britain’s
recent isolation from Europe,” it said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
