WI stalwarts are branded jingoistic ... for belting out Rule Britannia!
ASIDE from the odd racy calendar, the Women’s Institute has an abiding image of polite ladies united in a common cause, happy to make jam and sing Jerusalem.
But an almighty row has broken out between the normally civil members... over a ‘jingoistic’ performance of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.
In honour of the Queen’s birthday, WI organisers decided to model the close of this year’s annual meeting in Brighton on the Last Night of the Proms. Around 4,500 women, some wearing red, white and blue outfits, stood and waved Union Flags during the hearty renditions on Saturday.
But many thought the tunes were ‘outdated’ and ‘inappropriate’ and refused to stand. Others accused the organisation of ‘racism’ and of turning the meeting into something akin to ‘a Ukip rally’.
The vitriol became so intense that at least one member has quit the 220,000member organisation – with more threatening to follow. There have been growing conflicts in the organisation over its changing nature in recent years, when its membership has become younger and more diverse.
The row erupted after Cambridgeeducated doctor, Jag Picknett, took to social media after refusing to stand during the songs. Afterwards she said: ‘I’m a confident, educated, secondgeneration immigrant to this country and the finale was like being at a Ukip rally.
‘Jerusalem, fine, sing happy birthday to the Queen, fine, national anthem, fine. Wave flags and sing along to Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory with a member on stage dressed as Britannia leading it… not okay.
‘ I sat down all the way through it – I should have walked out. I haven’t felt this uncomfortable since the 1980s. If you want diversity and inclusivity the National Federation of Women’s Institutes needs to take a long hard look at itself.’
But members rounded on the GP from Bingley, West Yorkshire, telling her it was a ‘British institution’ and she should leave if she felt out of place. Hilary Forbes said on social media: ‘It’s just a bit of British tradition and fun. Nobody takes the words too seriously so if I was you I’d enter into the British way of being British.
‘We don’t rule the waves any more but I’m sure you don’t want to be a slave any more than I do.’ Chris Evans said: ‘This is our traditions, this is being Brit-
‘Like being at a Ukip rally’
ish so wave the flags and sing the hymns loud and clear.’
Brenda Perkins added: ‘Why don’t you perhaps set up your own group and build your own values and set your own constitution along the lines of what makes you happy and don’t try to change the WI to suit you.’
Chloe Mancey said: ‘I think this is a little over-sensitive… Edward Elgar was a wonderful and much celebrated British composer and Pomp and Circumstance is a song that is traditionally sung at many events. It is not racist or xenophobic.’ But Natice Duncan responded: ‘I am truly shocked to see so many pompous, racist comments.’ She said the WI should be ‘embracing the world as it is today, not 50 years ago. It is time to bring the WI into the modern world.’
Teresa Murray said: ‘Racism, jingoism, elitism, colonialism. I’m a new member and am shocked by some of the attitudes. I was under the impression the WI was supposed to be about inspiring women. It’s certainly inspired me not to renew my membership.’
The row is seen as a clash between the old and the new in the WI. In recent years the organisation has been trying to modernise to appeal to a new generation of women.
The stereotype of a group of retired ladies baking cakes and knitting has been discarded. Instead the WI wants to attract new and more diverse members, including working women from all walks of life and ethnicities.
However there has been resistance to change from the older, more traditional membership, who believe the cultural heritage of the WI is what made the organisation great.
A WI spokesman said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by the row. She said: ‘The WI was founded on the desire to provide an inclusive, welcoming, and open educational membership organisation for all women regardless of background, political beliefs, or religion, and it has sought to uphold these values and aims since the very first meeting in 1915.’