Penny Mordaunt has hit out at the BBC for “slashing” Rule Britannia, arguing the song is “important” to the country’s history.
It comes amid calls to drop the song from Last Night of the Proms due to its associations with colonialism and slavery.
The song sparked debate in 2020 when the broadcaster performed a U-turn by reversing its decision not to have it sung at the event.
Speaking on GB News, the Tory MP told Political Editor Christopher Hope that she has always campaigned for the song to be upheld.
Penny Mordaunt has hit out at the BBC
GETTY / GB NEWS
“I was someone that campaigned for us to retain the UK theme that was slashed by the BBC”, she said.
“These things I think are important to our history and I think that we should be celebrating our heritage.
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“That’s what these things are about. People don’t sing them to be offensive. We very tactfully drop verses out of certain tunes on various occasions.
“Let’s be pragmatic about this. I think the public do want to celebrate our cultural history.”
The BBC said in 2020 that the Proms were build on “long-standing traditions” which were “loved by people around the world”.
But musician Sheku Kanneh-Mason said the song only serves to “make people feel uncomfortable” and therefore should not be sung at the event.
The audience enjoying the BBC Last Night of the Proms, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.PA
Penny Mordaunt spoke to GB News’s Christopher Hope
GB NEWS
He told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs that “so much wonderful music” could replace it.
“I think maybe some people don’t realise how uncomfortable a song like that can make a lot of people feel, even if it makes them [the people singing it] feel good,” he said.
“I think that’s somehow a big misunderstanding about it.”
Asked what could be used in place of the historic song, Kanneh-Mason suggested British folk music.
“There is so much wonderful British music, the wealth of folk music from this country is astonishing,” he said. “I think that would be [a] wonderful thing to take its place.”
He continued: “There is so much that is worth celebrating and having as part of a big celebration at the end of a wonderful music festival.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “The Proms are built on long-standing traditions that were established by co-founder Sir Henry Wood, and which are loved by people around the world.
“One of these traditions is the Last Night festivities, other traditions include promoting new music, accessibility and opening up the world of classical music to as many people as possible.”
The audience enjoying the BBC Last Night of the Proms, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.PA
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