BBC Proms: PM says time to stop ‘cringing embarrassment’ about UK history | UK News

Boris Johnson has said it is time to stop “our cringing embarrassment” about UK history after the BBC’s Last Night Of The Proms was thrown into controversy.

Media reports had claimed the annual celebration of classical music was dropping “patriotic” songs Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule Britannia! due to their perceived association with colonialism and slavery.

“If it is correct… I think it’s time we stopped our cringing embarassment about our history, about our traditions and about our culture, and we stop this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness,” Mr Johnson told reporters.

Revealing that he had been advised against speaking out on the matter, he added: “I wanted to get that off my chest.”