PM calls for end to ‘self-recrimination and wetness’ over BBC Proms song stance

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for an end to “cringing embarrassment about our history” after the BBC decided to strip lyrics from traditional Last Night of the Proms favourites such as Land Of Hope And Glory. The broadcaster revealed details of its schedule for the Last Night event after reports that anthems Rule Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory could face the axe over their perceived association with colonialism and slavery. On Monday night, the BBC issued a statement saying the two songs would be performed by the orchestra, but without singing during the September 12 concert. Mr Johnson shared his reaction during a visit to Devon on Tuesday, telling reporters: “I was gonna tweet about this, but I just want to say… if it is correct, which I cannot believe that it really is, but if it is correct, that the BBC is saying that they will not sing the words of Land Of Hope And Glory or Rule Britannia! as they traditionally do at the end of The Last Night of The Proms. “I think it’s time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general fight of self-recrimination and wetness. “I wanted to get that off my chest.”