Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory WILL be played at Last Night Of The Proms, BBC confirms

Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule Britannia! will be performed at Last Night Of The Proms, the BBC has confirmed.

Downing Street said the patriotic anthems should not be dropped from the performance after reports that organisers feared a backlash in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.

The Sunday Times said there were concerns surrounding the songs' perceived association with colonialism and slavery.

But on Monday the BBC said in a statement: “With much reduced musical forces and no live audience, the Proms will curate a concert that includes familiar, patriotic elements such as Jerusalem and the national anthem."

However, it added that "new moments" would be introduced "capturing the mood of this unique time".

These will include a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, "presenting a poignant and inclusive event for 2020," the corporation said.

It continued: “We very much regret the unjustified personal attacks on Dalia Stasevska, BBC Symphony Orchestra principal guest conductor, made on social media and elsewhere.

“As ever, decisions about the Proms are made by the BBC, in consultation with all artists involved.”

Ms Stasevska, from Finland, is conducting the Last Night this year, with soprano Golda Schultz and the BBC Symphony Orchestra performing.

BBC Proms Royal Albert Hall

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Earlier, a Number 10 spokesman said the decision over whether to axe the songs was a matter for the "organisers of the Proms and the BBC", but Boris Johnson believed in tackling the “substance” not the “symbols” of problems.

“The Prime Minister previously has set out his position on like issues and has been clear that while he understands the strong emotions involved in these discussions, we need to tackle the substance of problems, not the symbols," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden insisted that “confident, forward-looking nations don’t erase their history”.

He tweeted: “Rule Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory are highlights of the Last Night of the Proms.

“(I) Share concerns of many about their potential removal and have raised this with (the) BBC.

“Confident forward-looking nations don’t erase their history, they add to it.”

Actor Laurence Fox, also took to Twitter to share his take on the rumours, writing: “I feel so honoured to be British and part of the incredible and diverse modern nation we have become.

“Without the past, we wouldn’t be where we are today. I wish the BBC would stop hating Britain so much. #DefundTheBBC”.

And Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wrote: “So the BBC may drop Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory from The Proms because the Finnish conductor is too woke. Why not drop her instead? ”

But Wasfi Kani, chief executive of Grange Park Opera in Surrey, told The Sunday Times she would support the removal of the songs.

“I don’t listen to Land Of Hope And Glory and say ‘thank God I’m British’," she said.

"It actually makes me feel more alienated.

"Britain raped India and that is what that song is celebrating,” she added.

A new arrangement of Jerusalem will be performed at the Last Night, along with orchestral versions of Land Of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia!

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