Ex-BBC reporter Danny Kelly has claimed that waving EU flags at The Last Night of the Proms is just "arrogant and conceited" in a debate over the controversial move to ban the display of the flags.
Despite a ban on "protest flags" at the Royal Albert Hall, the iconic venue was awash with blue and yellow stars, sparking debate about tradition and Brexit.
Danny Kelly said: "I think it's trying to sort of sow division, and it's almost an arrogant, conceited way of hijacking this particular spectacular occasion just to rub people's nose in it that they were wrong. That's their perception. That's their argument.
"I think that Last Night of the Proms is all about what's great about the United Kingdom. We're not part of the European Union anymore.
Danny Kelly says EU flags should be banned
GB News
"You get the impression that there are all these middle class leftie-luvvies who are just trying to take control of the situation.
"This is an iconic evening in the history of British TV and I think that they were right to confiscate them."
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However political commentator Nigel Nelson said: "They should get their rules sorted out because some EU flags were confiscated and some weren't. The staff there didn't know what they're meant to be doing.
He added: "If you're going to have flags at an event, what you can't do is stop people bringing in the flag of their choice, provided it's not a proscribed organisation."
He also suggested banning all flags, and said: "I think it's a great evening, a great British event.
"What I'm saying if their rules are such that they can't understand what they're doing, then ban all flags. And that would have to include the Union Jack."
'Arrogant and conceited!' Danny Kelly says EU flags should be BANNED at the Proms - 'Hijacking the occasion'
BBC
Nana argued: "Why would it include the Union Jack? You could ban all flags apart from the Union Jack. It's your venue, your rules. You can have whatever you want in there."
The Royal Albert Hall's guidance stated that flags were permitted if they didn't interfere with the concert, but banned those "related to protest, hatred" or from proscribed groups.
However, enforcement appeared inconsistent, causing confusion among attendees.
The tradition of flag-waving at the Last Night of the Proms has taken on new significance since the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Nigel Nelson said all flags should be banned
GB News
EU flags have become a regular fixture, with "Prommers" using them to express their allegiances.
This shift has sparked concern among some who view the event as a celebration of British patriotism.
The BBC has also faced criticism, with presenter Katie Derham recently labelling Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory as "incredibly problematic" due to their historical context.
