Laurence Fox/Dame Vera Lynn versus BBC

Lawrence Fox has lost his marbles and Vera Lynn hadn't---that's the difference.

I have cancelled the coming payment of my tv licence and look forward very much to them contacting me where I will have the chance to put to them all the reasons why.

MawB2

What have Lawrence Fox and the late Vera Lynn got to do with the Last Night of the Proms?

Maybe they could do a duet?

How many of the moaners actually go to any of the proms? Yes the last night is seriously out of date and should be rethought. Yes, I have been to the last night and many other proms and one of my children has sung in the proms. So I am a supporter of the concerts and have put my money where my mouth is, but the singalong bit- no thanks.

No one is forcing a sing-along but the traditions of our country are being eroded bit by bit which is something I cannot endorse.

It’s all getting very silly. Rule Britannia was written in 1740. I always thought it was about Britain not being taken over by the French or the Spanish. Children were frightened in to doing as they were told with the threat ‘Boney (Napoleon Bonaparte) will get you’.

The minority don't have to listen to it do they ? Leave the majority alone.!

I’m clearly in a minority. I’ve always felt that Land of Hope & Glory and Rule Britannia were jingoistic and inappropriate for the 21st century.

I Vow to Thee My Country would be my choice.

Surely the music played at the promenade concerts is the choice of the organisers of said concerts, not the public, most of whom never listen to, or attend, a classical music concert. Elgar hated the words to his music, which were added without his permission, Maybe we shoul,respect his wishes? The proms are a series of music concerts, not “ traditions of our country”. Rule Britannia was initially included to be a bit tongue in cheek, after some serious classical music , A bit of a mickey take, not a patriotic sing song. One year it was sung by a German singer which amused many promenaders. Honestly, talk about people getting stirred up by the likes of Farage, who I bet has never been to a proms concert, about something and nothing.

If this were in an episode of Yes, Minister, it would be funny.

Humphrey - the government's getting criticised, and even the Daily Mail is criticising the PM.

Not to worry, Minister. Remember how we got the voters to believe that the BBC is a bunch of rabid Trots?

Yeees, Humphrey . . .

Well, leave this to me. The Mail won't be able to contain itself if a, er, rumour starts about how they're banning patriotic songs, and if we chuck in Last Night of the Proms, the shires will be in revolt by Tuesday.

Oh, you are clever, Humphrey!

Yes, Minister.

I've often listened to selected parts of the Proms performances but have always, from an early age, switched of the jingoistic patriotic ending.
Never had any time for such imperialistic attitudes.

i heard at least 3 black britons on the radio last night saying how those songs excluded them.
they said they could not sing, britons never will be slaves, as their ancestors had been slaves.
they felt it was an insult on their ancestors.
it also suggested that they now were not really british because they were black, and their ancestors had been slaves.
i could see what they meant when they put it like that.

Good point, welbeck.

I still think that this is a deliberately engineered storm in a teacup (or ‘dead cat’), to distract people from the government’s incompetence though.

janeainsworth

I’m clearly in a minority. I’ve always felt that Land of Hope & Glory and Rule Britannia were jingoistic and inappropriate for the 21st century.

I Vow to Thee My Country would be my choice.

Elgar would have been horrified that "Land of Hope and Glory" has been used as a nationalistic anthem.

Doodledog

I still think that this is a deliberately engineered storm in a teacup (or ‘dead cat’), to distract people from the government’s incompetence though.

So do I!

Elgar hated the words “Land of Hope and Glory”, he thought it jingoistic back then.

There’s nothing to stop those who like this music buying it and singing along as much as they like, or why doesn’t Farage organise a UKIP , (or whatever his next fan club us called), classical concert and all his supporters can attend?

Doodledog I liked your yes minister post.

People need to learn their history. The slaves referred to are Britons who were captured by Barbary Pirates. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_on_the_Barbary_Coast. The songs were meant to hearten sailors and fishermen.

Petition is up to 30000 now. So there must be a lot of Brits who approve.

Storm about nothing. Anything that gets the odious Lawrence Fox on his soap box is usually a nonsense.

The focus on racism and slavery in recent months will inevitably lead to reflections on the songs traditionally sung with great enjoyment and enthusiasm at the last night of the proms. It's right to discuss and right that next year when (hopefully) there can be an audience, they will be sung again.

The purpose of Mr Johnson actually making a comment about the daily news was to continue the war against the BBC.

500 people a day are cancelling their direct debits to the tv licensing authority.
Today we will be joining them.

It's a shame that the Last Night is regarded as jingoistic and outdated. It's only once a year that music lovers gather for a night of celebrating the end of a summer festival with performances watched by millions and ending in a glorious singalong of patriotic songs and flag waving including flags from many nations. It has become so popular over the years that Proms in the Park(s) is a popular permanent inclusion.

The multi-culturalism and solidarity of the Proms was demonstrated when La Marseillaise was sung at the first night on July 15th 2016 as a tribute to the victims of the Nice atrocity.

Accusations of jingoism crop up every year but this year Covid has given an opportunity for objections to become headline news. I hope things return to normal next year but it's a long way off and campaigners are not going to let go of their argument.

As I've already said....It's one night only!

I saw Johnson again on the TV news this morning, and noticed that even he said ' If it is true that the BBC is not having the lyrics sung . . .'

Covering his back?

(thanks, Lucca )