Boris Johnson and his culture secretary Oliver Dowden have warned the BBC against any moves to drop Rule Britannia from the Last Night of the Proms.
The broadcaster is reportedly considering ditching the flag-waving anthem from the end-of-summer classical music concert, amid concerns that the song’s refrain “Britons never, never, never shall be slaves” is racist.
But the prime minister’s spokesperson said while scheduling was a matter for the BBC and the Proms organisers, he was clear in his view that “substance” was more important than “symbols” on such issues.
And Dowden went even further, revealing he had raised concerns with the BBC and declaring that “confident forward-looking nations don’t erase their history, they add to it”.
The PM’s spokesperson pointed to the PM’s previous remarks on the toppling of statues of slave owners and colonialists earlier this summer, when Johnson said it was wrong to “censor our past” and claimed protests had been “hijacked by extremists”.
The Sunday Times revealed that the BBC is looking at axeing both Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory from this year’s Proms finale in three weeks’ time.
Conductor Dalia Stasevska is said to believe this year’s ceremony without an audience is “the perfect moment to bring change”, while academics, musicians and campaigners have said the “racist propaganda” of both songs should be ended.
Dowden tweeted that both songs were “highlights” of the event and he shared the concerns expressed by some about the planned change.
Asked directly about the row, the PM’s spokesperson said: “The specific decision on this case is a matter for the organisers of the Proms and the BBC.
“But the PM has set out his views on like issues previously and has been clear while he understands the strong emotion involved in these discussions, we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols.
“The PM’s words on like issues previously stand.”
Asked whether he was referring to statues, the spokesperson said: “Yes. You have his words on similar issues previously.”
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Kehinde Andrews, a black studies professor at Birmingham City University, said it was time the anthems were ditched.
“I don’t think it’s about banning the songs – it’s about saying what songs are appropriate,” he said.
″‘Britons never, never, never shall be slaves’ – that’s racist propaganda at a time when Britain was the leading slave trading nation in the world.”
Musicians Chi-chi Nwanoku, who founded the first BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) majority orchestra in Europe, and Wasfi Kani, founder of Grange Park Opera in Surrey, have also expressed their opposition to the language in the songs.
When No.10 has been pressed previously on whether the PM would apologise for his own controversial comments on ethnic minorities – such as referring to Black Africans as having “watermelon smiles” – his official spokesperson has said such remarks were “addressed during the election campaign”.
The BBC said in a statement: “We are still finalising arrangements for the Last Night Of Rhe Proms so that we are able to respond to the latest advice in regards to Covid-19 and deliver the best offering possible for audiences.
“We have announced that conductor Dalia Stasevska, soprano Golda Schultz and the BBC Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Last Night Of The Proms this year. Full details will be announced nearer the time of the concert (September 12).”