GB News has reacted spikily to what it called a “major Brussels love-in” at the Last Night of the Proms. But raising the EU flag at this iconic event is not about love – it’s about legacy.
EU flags at the Last Night of the Proms
Campaign group Thank EU for the Music returned to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 13 September for the Last Night of the Proms.
Formed in 2016, Thank EU for the Music is a crowdfunded group of music lovers who peacefully campaign throughout the year. It raises awareness of the damage Brexit has done to the UK’s touring and arts industries.
The group handed out more than 3000 free EU flags to concertgoers at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. This was to show solidarity with touring musicians and performers whose livelihoods have been hit hard by Brexit. The capacity of the Royal Albert Hall is 5,272:
The group came together ahead of the event to wave EU flags outside the Royal Albert Hall:
According to the This Is Music 2024 report, the UK music industry contributes over £7.6bn to the economy and employs 216,000 people. Touring across Europe is critical to the survival of this industry. Yet Brexit and the end of freedom of movement have severely restricted that ability. It continues to be the elephant in the room, with its damaging impact and legacy ignored by politicians and mainstream media alike.
One campaigner brought a model elephant in EU flag to highlight this:
Brexit: the elephant in the room still damaging musicians’ livelihoods
During a fantastic evening that included performances by Louise Alder, Alison Balsom, Brian May, and Bill Bailey, Elim Chan, conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, gave a heartfelt speech linking music to freedom and human potential.
Thank EU for the Music was there to underscore that culture should have no borders, reflecting a society that lives enriched by its internationalism. It highlighted how this is the growing populist isolationism of Brexit now threatens this. In turn, it threatens freedoms, enlightenment, and social cohesion in a nation becoming riven by ever radicalised extremes.
It argues that freedom of movement is precisely what UK musicians need and it is time the government fulfilled its manifesto pledge.
Spokesperson for Thank EU for the Music Kate Hobbs said:
We are taking away opportunities for our young musicians, who have suffered the most from Brexit. It’s no longer feasible for up-and-coming bands to tour Europe given the insane amount of paperwork and bureaucracy. We simply want the government to honour its manifesto and restore freedom of movement for musicians in this vital industry. We will continue to campaign until we achieve music without borders.
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