BBC sparks outrage after Last Night of the Proms ‘hijacked’ by flag-waving pro-EU ‘pranksters’

Thomas Arne’s 1740 classic Rule Britannia, which is synonymous with the end-of-season concert, was seen as a tipping point for many on social media.

Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor called for an immediate investigation into how so many flags were on display at the Royal Albert Hall.

He told GB News: “Had there been no reaction and had most newspapers last night and this morning not taken it up and written articles about it, I think the BBC would have done nothing.

“Can you imagine the BBC’s PR department going in this morning and not having wall-to-wall meetings throughout the building saying to themselves ‘what the hell are we going to do about this?’

“My view, yes I happen to be a Brexiteer and I didn’t want to join in the first place, is a national event in the guardianship of the BBC has been allowed to be turned into a political event.

“What are the BBC going to do to stop it from being a political event next year?

“It’ll be even worse next year because on the one hand EU supporters will think what a wonderful prank they’ve pulled off, we will do it again, and those on the Leave side of the argument will want to see how they can challenge it.

“There will be the possibility of a national music event, a historical event, being turned into a free-for-all between pro and anti-EU supporters. That’s not what the Last Night of the Proms is about.”

Proctor, who pointed out how EU activists often heckle MPs on College Green in Westminster, added: “The BBC cannot allow this traditional, British national event to be hijacked by one side or the other on the argument of whether we should be or should not be in the EU.

“It’ll be much worse next year than it was this year and this year was bad enough.”

The former Billericay MP also wrote on social media: “BBC must investigate how so many EU flags were waved and on display at The Last Night of the Proms.

“Disgraceful and misguided BBC messing up a British tradition; a political gesture which would make Sir Henry Wood turn in his grave. Utterly vulgar and wrong. Rule Britannia, not Rule EU!”

Lord Michael Ashcroft, a Tory peer who supported Britain’s decision to quit the Brussels bloc, also voiced his frustration.

He said: “Stirring at the Last Night of the Proms. We shall remain a proud independent nation.”

Former aide to Margaret Thatcher Nile Gardiner wrote: “Ironic to see some of the audience at The Last Night of the Proms waving EU flags while singing Rule Britannia.

“Rule Britannia represents freedom, sovereignty, and self-determination, all absent in the European Union. Thank God for Brexit.”

Activists associated with Thank EU for the Music have been handing out EU flags at the event since 2016.

The pro-Remain group showed vans filled with “thousands of free EU flags” in a post on social media.

In a letter sent on Saturday to BBC chief Tim Davie, the group congratulated him on an “incomparable festival of joyful music-making”.

In relation to the flags, it said: “We appreciate that the BBC strives to avoid controversy at all costs, but would gently point out that in doing so you might on occasion have chosen reticence rather than objectivity with regards to editorial policy on Brexit matters.”

Pro-EU commentators were also keen to celebrate the moment.

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika said: “Brexiters outraged after crowds wave EU flag at Last Night of the Proms - yet not a peep on the fact that Brexit has shafted the music industry when it comes to touring including orchestras. How strange?”

Steve Bray, a Europhile activist who stands in Westminster badgering MPs, was among the EU flag wavers.

He added: “I find it so ironic that at the Last Night of the Proms the kindest, [the] most welcoming and happiest people all had the European flag!”