The BBC Proms season at the Royal Albert Hall came to an end last Saturday with its usual Pomp and Circumstance. A traditional feature of the last night, in addition to the streamers, honkers and popular songs, is the waving of the European flag.
The bulk of these flags were organised by Thank EU for the Music, a pro-EU group of music lovers who invite concert goers to wave the European flag in solidarity for UK and EU touring musicians whose careers and livelihoods have been blighted by Brexit red tape.
The issue concerns the lack of freedom of movement and the extra paperwork facing touring musicians. This includes arranging carnets, work visas, cabotage permits, CITES certificates, and VAT registrations relating to the sale of merchandise. The CEO of UK trade body LIVE (Live music Industry Venues and Entertainment), Jon Collins, recently remarked, “Venues, festivals, and artists across both the UK and EU are suffering under the current touring arrangements.” Recent research carried out by the Musicians’ Union and The Independent Society of Musicians reveals that more than half of UK musicians no longer tour the EU.
The pro-Brexit press characterised Thank EU for the Music as a “noxious grievance lobby” and falsely claimed that the European flag had been banned by the Royal Albert Hall as a flag of “protest and hatred” and that European flags were being confiscated by security on the day. Charlie Rome, 40, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed this as “absurd.”
“Do you think we would have gone to all of this trouble and expense without first checking with the Royal Albert Hall whether the European flag is banned from the Last Night of the Proms?” Charlie reasoned. “Clearly, the flag is not a symbol of hatred,” he added.
In fact, the European Union website states that the flag stands for “ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.” It has been the flag of The Council of Europe since 1955. The UK was a founding member and continues to be a CoE member today.
But the clear evidence that these were false claims could be seen by millions tuning in to the live BBC broadcast. Yet again, a sea of European flags dominated the circular hall. Right-wing commentators such as Nigel Farage and Isabel Oakeshott, who fuelled the story last year with their feigned outrage, remained tight-lipped this year.
But this story will not go away until the Labour government fulfils its manifesto pledge to resolve the issue of UK and EU touring musicians. In an interview with LBC in April 2024, Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the problem, stating:
“There are brilliantly talented individuals in bands, groups, drama, you name it, who are going to other countries to perform often for a few days, then coming back or going to another country. They are nothing really to do with immigration, yet are simply going to play in other countries, and those other countries want them there. So, we have to make that easier. It’s been very tough, particularly for musicians. So, anything we can do to ease that, the better.”
Since Labour has been in power, however, they have remained mute on the subject. Dave Webster, MU Head of International, is quietly optimistic that things will get resolved:
“Thankfully, we now have a government who are listening to our concerns and have pledged to take our issues to the EU to try to reach an understanding for touring musicians and their crews.”
It feels like everyone is walking on eggshells, allowing the right-wing media’s false claims and sound and fury to germinate as it did during the Brexit campaign and prolong the impasse. Meanwhile, our touring musicians and the creative industry in general continue to be bound by red tape.
