Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has hit back after a Labour frontbencher reignited the row over Rule Britannia.
Shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire claimed the patriotic anthem, which is traditionally accompanied by flag-waving at the Last Night of the Proms, “alienates” many people.
But Ms Frazer told the Express: “Rule Britannia has been an iconic feature of the proms for decades.
“We should be championing our traditions and shared culture, not trying to whitewash or erase them.”
Critics argue that the song has associations with slavery and colonialism.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the cellist who played at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, said in January that the piece should be dropped from the BBC concert because it makes people feel “uncomfortable”.
Asked about his comments, Ms Debbonaire told the Spectator’s Women with Balls podcast: “It’s not my favourite bit of music.
“And the Proms is a fantastic institution and it’s the world’s greatest music festival.
“I think it’s a decision for the people who run the Proms and again, like I said, it shouldn’t be politicians who tell people how to run cultural events.
“I think for a lot of people that feels like a very sort of British moment, which I think has to be respected as well, but for a lot of people, as Sheku Kenneh-Mason said, it will feel alienating.
“As I want the Proms – I want culture – to be accessible to everyone, I think it’s a good debate for us to be having.”
The BBC sparked a backlash in 2020 over plans to play the song without the lyrics before performing a U-turn.
