The singing of two rousing patriotic anthems, "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory", has been part of the programme of The Last Night of the Proms for many years. But their performance is now threatened with cancellation by the forces of political correctness.
Various BBC sources have been quoted in the press as saying that this is because of Black Lives Matter. If so, this is the worst kind of tokenism.
Few can be offended by the words of these patriotic songs, while for many of us they are a vital element of our heritage and have sustained us in moments of national peril. The annual singing of these songs on The Last Night of the Proms, which is broadcast on BBC Television, has become a much-cherished ritual. They are sung with pride and sentiment, but also with a degree of joshing humour and wry self-mockery that is characteristically British.
If the BBC excludes these songs from The Last Night of the Proms, the lives of patriotic Britons of all colours and creeds will be diminished by this insensitive act of cancellation.
We believe that patriotic songs matter and we call upon the Director General of the BBC and the head of BBC Music TV Commissioning not to betray our patriotic heritage.
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