Music legend Don Black has come out in support of Boris Johnson’s position on the growing Rule, Britannia! row. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the legendary English lyricist said that Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory are “our history”. Mr Black is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and for penning the famous James Bond theme songs ‘Thunderball,’ ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.
He was asked by the BBC whether he thought the lyrics to Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory should be dropped from the Last Night Of The Proms.
Mr Black responded: “I agree with Boris on that because that’s our tradition, that’s our song.
“That song has been there forever and a lot of songs don’t bear close examination.
“It was of a period. And it’s our history.”
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The decision has sparked a huge wave of backlash against the BBC.
A new YouGov survey shows an overwhelming majority of Britons oppose the BBC’s decision to cut the lyrics to the national songs.
YouGov research for The Times shows 55 percent of people asked oppose the move to cut the lyrics from the two songs, compared to 16 percent who back the decision.
Only five percent of people polled believe the songs should not be performed at all at the Last Night of the Proms.
Michael Grade, the former BBC chairman, also blasted his former employer for embarrassing itself over the Rule, Britannia! Proms row.
Lord Grade, who led the BBC from 2004 to 2006, issued a withering takedown of the national broadcaster, calling the move “ridiculous”.
The BBC, which confirmed that the songs would be sung next year, claimed the decision to cut the lyrics was over fears of coronavirus and not the songs’ links to slavery and colonialism.
Fewer performers will be allowed on stage, which makes it harder to perform the songs with a traditional chorus.
A BBC spokesperson said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, these songs will be sung next year.”
