Debbonaire has made the bold statement that if Labour win the 2024 election, seizing power from the current lot, that she will install a 'Visa Waiver System' so artists from the UK will be able to work in Europe with slightly less red-tape.
This is clearly something she, nor the Labour party as a whole, have any control over as it is the EU bureaucrats in each member state that decides who can work within their borders without a visa, etc.
She must know this, in which case her making this promise is a complete lie. If she doesn't know this then she is incompetent in her role as (potentially) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Music brings people together - unless it's Rule, Britannia! Labour's Thangam Debbonaire claims the song is 'alienating' to many people.
Thangam Debbonaire said that culture should be "accessible for everyone" and that the British patriotic song can make many feel left out (implying that it's the unpatriotic that feel this way).
These comments come after cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who performed at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, said that playing the song at the Last Night of the Proms would make Britons feel uncomfortable. "A lot of people would agree with him." according to the MP for Bristol West.
Instead of Rule, Britannia! being played at the Proms, the 24-year-old musician said it could be replaced with British folk music.
In an interview with The Spectator's Women and Balls podcast, Debbonaire was accepting of the possibility with replacing the classic. "It's not my favourite bit of music. And the Proms is a fantastic institution and it's the world's greatest music festival." she said. "It's a decision for the people who run the Proms and 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 Kanneh-Mason said, it will feel alienating."
The Labour MP added "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."
Those who are against the anthem have claimed it generates associations with slavery and Britain's colonial past.
On the opposite side of the debate, Conservative deputy chairman Jack Lopresti said "It should come as no surprise that Labour are happy to run roughshod over our national traditions. After all, this is the same party whose leader [Sir Keir Starmer] says his favourite piece of classical music was the EU's anthem Ode to Joy."
Debbonaire's stance comes four years after the BBC was forced into a U-turn and brought back the singing of the song after the Proms originally planned to just play an instrumental version.
Professional musician Lorraine, who played at the 2020 proms, told LBC's Nick Ferrari that Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory are "dated" and suit "this xenophobic country". She added "Rule, Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory are jingoistic, dated, arrogant and cringe-making - and quite frankly, that suits this xenophobic country and Brexit."
Nick suggested that if she doesn't like it, she shouldn't watch it, but Lorraine pointed out "It's not about not watching it. I have to blooming play the stuff!"
A spokesman for Rishi Sunak said "The prime minister is very clear that it should continue to be sung and proudly."
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the song was "uniting", and "about the marvellous history of this country to which every British citizen belongs. The overwhelming majority of people are proud of Britain, proud of its history, and this is encapsulated in the very stirring words of Rule, Britannia!" the former minister said.
In 2020, a student was reprimanded by officials at Aberdeen University Students' Association after using "discriminatory or racist language" by saying "Rule Britannia!" during a debate about the British Army.
Union officials told Ms Heverin "The language used by you, in particular the use of the phrase 'Rule Britannia', could be construed as potentially discriminatory". However, they were unable to determine whether there was "deliberate racist intent". It came after a fellow student complained about her use of the phrase.
Rule, Britannia is based on the 1740 poem written by James Thomson and is associated with the Royal Navy and British Army.
Taxpayers have footed a £20,800 bill for Labour Party Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire Arabic lessons over the past six years.
Debbonaire, caused controversy when she told reporters that she would be open to cancelling the song 'Rule Britannia' and 'Land of Hope and Glory' earlier in 2024 citing some people find it offensive. Apparently though she is OK charging the tax-payer for her to learn Arabic rather than encouraging her constituents to learn English, on a course that wouldn't cost the tax-payer nearly £21,000!
The annual bill has surged since 2017-18, but unless she has learning difficulties, it shouldn't take five years!
She has previously argued that the Arabic lessons "help communicate with the diverse population" in the Bristol West constituency she has represented since 2015.
During a Commons debate in June 2018, Debbonaire said "I've been learning Arabic for the last 18 months in order to make a better MP for the Syrian and other Middle Eastern refugees in my constituency. The idea is to make that welcome as genuine and sincere as possible."
The Commons said that since 2001 MPs have been able to 'receive training in accordance with their parliamentary duties'.
'As a result of this, a provision was established to enable Members to learn a language or develop existing skills,' a statement on the Parliamentary website said.'
'The service is arranged by the Members' Services Team and courses are run by approved training providers.'