Tice calls for ‘insulting’ EU flag is banned from the Last Night of the Proms

Sep 11, 2023 at 2:29 PM
Tice calls for ‘insulting’ EU flag is banned from the Last Night of the Proms

The EU flag on the Last Night of Proms is “an insult to Britain” and must be banned from the occasion, Reform UK chief Richard Tice has demanded.

With anger rising over the best way Rejoiners have hijacked a patriotic celebration of Britain, Mr Tice has additionally accused the BBC of being “complicit” in selling the EU flag.

The Reform UK chief attended the Last Night of the Proms for the primary time final weekend and advised Express.co.uk that he was shocked by what he noticed.

On the aproach to the Albert Hall, Rejoiner activists might be seen with a whole lot of EU flags handing them out to Promenaders going to the annual live performance well-known for its patriotic renditions of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

Mr Tice advised Express.co.uk that he was “disgusted” by what he noticed.

He mentioned: “I am not in favour of banning things normally but we really need to ban the EU flag from the Last Night of the Proms.

“This is a patriotic occasion celebrating Britain and we’re permitting folks to insult this nation with the flag of a political organisation.

“I don’t have any problem with French people or Germans or whoever taking their own flag, but really the main flags should be the Union Jack not the EU one.”

Turning his ire on the BBC which organises and broadcasts the occasion, he mentioned: “I’m afraid I believe the BBC is complicit on this.

“It was noticeable that folks with EU flags have been being ushered to the entrance the place after all they are going to be caught on digicam extra. “The whole thing was disgusting frankly.”

The BBC has denied any complicity or involvement with the EU flags.

Mr Tice in contrast it to nationwide occasions in different international locations and recommended that folks wouldn’t settle for using different flags to insult their nationwide celebrations.

He mentioned: “Imagine turning up to a 4th of July Independence Day event in the USA flying the Union Jack in large numbers. I don’t think the Americans would be very pleased at all and you might provoke let’s say a robust response from somebody.”

He pointed to a social media from Rejoiner campaigner Steve Bray thanking the crew of campaigners for organising the flags.

“This proves it is deliberately organised,” Mr Tice added.

The Rejoiner was at the event and refused to sing “Britain will never be slaves”.

The hijacking of a nationwide occasion has additionally provoked fury amongst Tory MPs who’ve demanded a cease to it. The BBC has denied allegations from Mr Tice that it’s “complicit”.

A spokesman mentioned: “Audiences choose to bring their own flags, and the Royal Albert Hall specify size limitations within their guidelines for safety reasons.”

A BBC supply added: “The point regarding us being complicit in promoting EU flags and encouraging those with EU flags to go to the front is simply untrue.”