ENOUGH! HANDS OFF OUR HERITAGE

PM voices concerns of nation urging: ‘It’s time to stop cringing embarrassment about our history’

BORIS Johnson has called for an end to the constant attacks on Britain’s history.

The Prime Minister wants to put a stop to the “cringing embarrassment” about our nation’s culture and traditions after the BBC’s plan to drop the lyrics from Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory at the Proms.

Mr Johnson told of his disbelief at the political correctness row sparked

by the Beeb’s plans for an orchestral version of both patriotic singalongs for this year’s finale.

BBC chiefs confirmed the musiconly versions, claiming the televised festival has retained its “patriotic elements” despite a revamp blamed on coronavirus.

But critics claim they have shied away from the lyrics’ perceived colonial and slavery sentiments following a summer of Black Lives Matter demos.

The furore comes amid a growing backlash against attempts by institutions such as the National Trust and the British Museum to shy away from Britain’s colonial past.

Mr Johnson said during a trip to Devon that he wanted to get his thoughts on the Proms controversy “off my chest”.

The PM said he “cannot believe” that the BBC would “not sing the words of Land Of Hope And Glory or Rule, Britannia! as they traditionally do”.

He added: “It’s time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general fight of selfrecrimination and wetness.”

Mr Johnson had previously said that anti-racist campaigners should tackle the “substance” and not the “symbols” of the scourge.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “The pomp and pageantry of the Last Night Of The Proms is a staple of British summer.

“The running order is a matter for the organisers and the BBC, but enjoying patriotic songs does not and should not present a barrier to examining our past and learning lessons from it.”

This year’s series will end on September 12, with a performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dalia Stasevska.

Because the Royal Albert Hall venue will be audience-free follow

ing the pandemic, the traditional flag-waving sing-along will not be possible.

Although soprano Golda Schultz will sing on other pieces for the event, she will not be heard on either of the works.

The BBC said the number of musicians has been reduced as they try to maintain social distancing among the performers.

Organisers said the show “includes familiar, patriotic elements” but will bring in “new moments capturing the mood of this unique time”.

However, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the BBC should include subtitles on the show so that viewers can sing at home.

He said: “We’ve heard the BBC’s position that they will maintain the traditions.

“Personally, I would like to see the lyrics sung and of course it is always possible to put lyrics up as subtitles on the screen so, if people want to, they can join in at home.”

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly tweeted: “I’m black. My mum was black. I have black family. I have black friends.

“Number of times that the Last Night Of The Proms was raised with me as an issue before this BBC nonsense? Zero.”

Labour’s Lord Adonis said it was “laughable” for the BBC to censor the songs, adding: “I haven’t got a clue what possessed them to think there was a problem with them.”

Actor Laurence Fox, below, said: “The BBC is run by activists.

“It’s a naval-gazing, Britishhating institution that needs to be massively defunded and have a complete root and branch reform because they are not representative of the country and extremely patronising.”

Rule, Britannia! was written by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. Land Of Hope And Glory was the work of Sir Edward Elgar and AC Benson and dates from 1902.

Sources said at the weekend that Proms organisers wanted to avoid a “perceived association of colonialism and slavery”. Rule, Britannia! is deemed problematic because of Britain’s role in the slave trade, while Land Of Hope And Glory talks about the “strong” empire getting “mightier”.

Yesterday, outgoing BBC director general Lord Tony Hall defended its handling of the saga, saying: “They’ve come to the right decision. I think they’ve come to the right conclusion. Who knows what will happen next year. I suspect it will be back. “The fact is we have come to the right conclusion, which is a creative and artistic conclusion.”