How many people and what people do not feel confortable attending the Proms? - for the love of all things sane and not drenched in politicial correctness can we ask the Culture Minister to focus on the job at hand before Great Britain has no culture or identity left and becomes the mongrel of Europe.

Colin, Dubai,

NO !!

simple as that.

Hubble, Evian, France

Oh for heaven's sake. Each countries has it's own culture, its own music, literature etc. Britain is perhaps the most multi-cultural country in the world (a legacy from our colonising) and we do make privisions for these other cultures, but please, leave the Proms alone. I only wish I could afford to go to one.

thalassa, france,

If I remember rightly, the Promenade Concerts are a commercial undertaking. They make money.
As far as I am aware, the UK is still a market economy, which means that a promotor can put on any programme of music that he or she thinks will attract ticket buyers.
This would suggest that the elected government should keep its opinions to itself and butt out of the argument.

'Arry Antisocial, London, UK

The proms are Classical Music Concerts - leave them alone. Do us classical music buffs tell those at Rock Festivals that they should include a bit of Handel or Bach?

Dominic, Teddington, UK,

Margaret Hodge and all others members of the Labour, or 'foot in the mouth' party, should watch what they say because they are certainly not making people feel any better about this country or it's heritage. They are constantly attempting to browbeat people into accepting the unacceptable. Stop trying to foist your strange convoluted views on us and leave us alone. The English want to remain English and we have a RIGHT to be proud of our country, it's history and its heritage and a Government has no mandate from the English voter to demand anything else. It's time to say 'go to hell' to those who want to, and are going hell for leather to divide this country. Their constant drive for unnecessary change is putting the country in danger of revolt and their constant petulant comments are just plain irresponsible.

judy, Liverpool, England

The article does not state whether or not the comments are in relation to the last night or the whole season.

The last night is simply a celebration of the entire event and should be seen as such, nothing more. A British musical festival which reaches its climax - with some 45 minutes of singing and audience participation.

If people do not like the event itself, or the last night simply do not go,. The politctians should stay out of classical music, so should the question of multiculturalism.

The proms invite orchestras from all over the world, have a reputation for promoting living composers and is simply one of the best musical events in the entire world..

Paul Langham, Brussels, Belgium

Don't be so damned silly - English, Scottish and Welsh cultures should be respected and left alone to their own devices - the whole inclusiveness agenda is wrong, and those who pedal it only apply it to the indigenous customs and traditions of the British Isles, never to the people recently known as foreigners who have been allowed to come and live here.

Andrew J Iddon, London, UK

While Hodge is busy getting rid of the Proms, perhaps she could find time to replace Black Rod with a doorbell! Cultural and historical institutions are the bedrock of any "civilised" society. Long may they be so.

Keith Hall, Helsinki, Finland

i go th the proms link up in glasgow green every year with a mixture of friends of diffrent ages,we have a fabulous time and there are all ages that join in young and old may it continue...pauline muir glasgow.

pauline muir, giffnock, glasgow

Modern British culture incorporates the history and dynamics of our past, combining it with current thinking and action - The Proms recognises the great history of Great Britain.
The proms should continue in the tradition they always have - showing patriotic subjects having a jolly good time

James, Northants,

How can she say that about the Proms and in the same breath claim that the Eden Project (essentially a huge greenhouse complex filled with foreign plants) or the Angel of the North (a huge inaccessible metal sculpture foisted on us by the Government) are "icons of a common culture that everybody can feel a part of"?

TIG, Norwich,

every other culture in britain today has its voice and no one questions their rights to them. why should our traditions be questioned. our traditions are in danger of being so diluted, they will vanish altogether.

kf, wolverhampton,

We Brits. might just as well be living in old Russia or Zimbabwe, if you get my meaning!

Nick G., woodford, England

No,

The proms is about the best of British music, of British culture; Not that of those from other shores. I'm all for multicultural Britain but what would be the point if we forgot what it is to be British

SMT, Bedford,

Engage brain before putting mouth into operation.

What did she expect the response to be. The majority of the UK population is anglo-saxon, and a large number (majority, perhaps?) feel more & more disenfranchised.

Of course they would respond negatively to this.

ws, Manchester,

It's really very simple, if you find it "uncomfortable", don't go, don't watch it on television, don't read about it in the newspapers, don't have anything to do with it. But keep it, exactly the way it's intended to be. Enough of our British heritage has been destroyed by the "do gooders" please find something else to do. Perhaps you could spend your time on solving real issues of importance, instead of caring about having the "Brits" bending to what they believe to be more suitable. No No No!

Richard Silcox, Sheffield, UK

I've always wanted to attend the Last night of the Proms, particularly for Elgar's pomp and circumstance, for Jersulem, not to mention to share the joy of our British cousins celebrating their rich musical heritage. I hope it's essential character will be preserved, inspite of the social engineering anti-Anglo Saxon proclivities that some of your nations elite so slavishly adhere to. God bless the UK!

Darren, New York, NY

Hodgey is doing her duty as a fully signed up member of the Multiculturalism Party ;)

Perhaps some people don't like MOWO as much as they do MOBO.

BTW - as many don't know what the government policy on MC is:

Current Multiculturalism policy was adopted by New Labur because of all the immigration problems - it is about propaganda i.e. pretending immigration is brilliant e.g. google for multiculturalism on government sites and you will find phrases like; "positive agenda for multiculturalism", "Promoting diversity", "Encouraging a positive public climate", "Promoting diversity in government functions", "Promoting diversity in education" and "Monitoring and evaluating diversity" i.e. the control of public and monitoring of this control.

Garry Anderson, Haverhill, Suffolk

We need cultural events which celebrate a definitive culture, otherwise we end up with a pot pourri.

For the sake of multiculturalism should we put a curry side dish with Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding, and stirfry the beef instead of roasting it?
After all some new Brits might appreciate this.

The short answer to making the proms more inclusive is
NO

Olive Dunn, Kingston, Ontario Canada

Would Margaret Hodge tell us how many Proms, and which ones, she attended last summer?

David M Edwards, Richmond, Surrey

I love how people can still regard the BNP as extremists when the Labour, conservative and lib parties are clearly the extreme ones. Look at all the whacky things these parties have suggested and implimented, yet people still vote for them?!

Paul Sharpe, Nottingham, England

Keep the last night of the Proms British. Why is the government trying so hard to remove British culture for a minority immigrant culture. Chinese New Year as with other international festivals was celebrated in a muti-cultural London. So why cant we be British in London?

Geoffrey Cox, London, UK

Mrs Hodge is too keen on her social engineering. The Proms are well attended and anyone is free to go or stay away. If there was an empty hall maybe it would be worth looking at what type of audiences there are. Why is Mrs Hodge trying to destroy a wonderful cultural festival? She should travel more.
In Saudi Arabia for example they expect foreigners to respect their way of life and are very honest about saying that viitors or other ethnic groups have to confrorm to the laws and customs of their country. I agree with them. We should take the same view.

Allan Davies, Peterborough, UK

Roll on the next election, enough token female ministers, enough Scottish MPs in the English Parliament, lets not vote any incumbents back in at all, they have all betrayed us.
Leave the Proms alone!

Clive Burghard, LANCING, England

I have been lucky enough to attend the proms several times in recent years and each time I have paid just £5 for a promenaders ticket. I could not get to see a football match, even at a lower division team for twice that price, so there is no way the proms is inaccessible. It is also now televised, with really good and professional commentary. The real reason people feel it is "beyond" them is because there is generally a huge lack in funding for music education and so people are brought up thinking it is not for them.
As for it not being "multicultural" enough, I have seen works by Shostakovich (Russian), Sibelius (Finnish), Mahler (Austrian) and Berlioz (French) performed there by musicians from New York, Russia, New Zealand and Germany, as well as musicians from across the UK.
I have also had the pleasure of attending the Youth Proms and have seen the flood of talent among the young people of this country playing classical, pop, jazz and world music. Maybe Mrs Hodge should go.

Sian, Hull, UK

'When one goes to France or other parts of the world we either join in with their culture or we take a back seat we do not try and change their way of life'... RUBBISH!!! When the English go abroad we flock together like sheep and build enclaves and call ourselves 'EX-PATS'. We do everything we possibly can to not fit in. This includes waving that silly flag in the locals faces at every given opportunity.

Daniel wright, Liverpool,

clearly this is just a mistake caused by a poor brief from her team which she did not properly question. it is well known that the proms succeed in reaching out to wider audiences and clearly certain proms include non traditional music. hodge's team have tried to the link the slightly eccentric behaviour on the last night of the proms with what the proms truly is all about. a mistake to do so, a dumb one at the least, move on.

Simon J Marsh, Woodford Green,

I managed to attend a Proms concert when I was living in the UK and enjoyed every minute of it, especially the piece de resistance of that night that I came to hear, Penderecki's 'St.Luke Passion' (a work not without its detractors who accused Penderecki of 'courting the MASSES' -- so there you are!). Those who have the knowledge of something seek that that they can enjoy. Confidence is all that's required to attend a special event that interests one (and I am not talking about the Royal Gala here!).
Some prefer a soccer match.

SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia

I, like many others now, look forward to the day when Britain can reclaim her integrity, self respect, pride, culture and streets.

If Gordon Brown cared at all for this Country he would call a General Election immediately.

Paul, Rochester, UK

Britain, you are governed by fools determined to turn you into a Euro ministate like France. In France, thanks to people like Hodge, you can enjoy fireworks nightly - although you enjoyment may be somewhat limited if it is your car they have decided to torch.

Fight back before it is too late.

Andrew Mills, Melbourne, Australia

Mrs Hodge and other detractors must think that there are only one night in the Proms programme, the last one. In recent years I have attended two nights at the Proms, one a concert of African guitar music and the other a celebration of black New York jazz, how British. Also, me not even being English, I think it's nice that the last night is a flag-waving celebration of Britishness, every other country in the world does it, what's the problem with doing it here?

Pepe, London,

I would feel "uncomfortable" attending a MOBO award occasion, so I JUST DON'T GO.

D.Henry, Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Margaret Hodge would be wise to think about what she is saying in future, the proms are open to everyone, from every walk of life, and since the BBC began broadcasting the event it has become mroe popular, particularly the last night of the proms, which is 'Britishness' personified, but unfortunately it does not conform to how NuLabour wish to portray their multi-cultural view of Britatin, its just, well, too British for them!

Leslie Corrin, Southport, England

I personally can't imagine anything more painful than the Last Night of the Proms. An evening of performances of pieces that are devoid of all musical merit. There is not a hint of artistic depth or imagination to be found in the dull droning of Jerusalem and the sheer cheesiness of Pomp and Circumstance. I'm happy enough with the rest of the Proms but attacking this supposed cultural bastion is simply evidence of good taste.

Law student, London,

What is a "Culture Minister" anyway? Sounds very Warsaw Pact.

Can't culture be left to take care of itself?

Simon Moore, Waltham, MA

Is nothing safe from Government interference ? Leave the proms, alone. If anyone has a problem with this sort of music then don`t listen to it. This sounds like another case of a white middle class Liberal telling us that they know best.

J.Jarvis, Coalville, Leicestershire

Let's just face it. Labour doesn't like Britain or the British very much. Their agenda is the destruction of anything that symbolises this island and its history over the past 1.000 years.

Margaret, Berkhamsted,

The Proms are the epitome of English Culture and in no way should other cultures be permitted to encroach upon one of the last remaining bastions of that culture.

Allan Pope, Paeroa, New Zealand.

I suggest Mrs Hodge RESIGNS.

c bevitt, nottingham, uk

Would The OX and Bucks have charged over Pegasus Bridge as they did if they had foreseen how easily some of our modern day politicians would have gave away the rights they paid for in blood.
The rights to wave The Union Jack in The Royal Albert Hall in the capital city of our own country.
The PC Brigade will end up leading more and more moderates like me to the extreme right. The BNP will be keeping their doors wide open!

Stephen Simpson, Larne, Antrim N.Ireland

By no means, save a little of England!

Nick , Washington, DC

The usual misguided comment from Hodge, divisive and anti-British. I'm normally a Labour voter and very interested in both culture and Culture. I don't remember being as unhappy with a Culture Minister as this one.

Patricia Hodges

Patricia Hodges, Canterbury, ENGLAND

I wouldn't have the impertinence to migrate to another country and expect the culture to be modified to my tastes. I don't care if people from different backgrounds feel uncomfortable with the Proms. All they have to do is learn English, obey our laws and make some effort to integrate.

Mike Smith, Birmingham, Uk

What a very stupid woman. Is there a problem with people fitting into our society and enjoying our culture.When one goes to France or other parts of the world we either join in with their culture or we take a back seat we do not try and change their way of life if she finds this country so intolerable perhaps it is time she moved elsewhere. I am sure she would not be missed. June Sumner

john sumner, Retford, Notts

Margeret Hodge,
May I suggest that you emmigrate if you do not like anything British. Also may I suggest that anyone out there who does not like to be British , EMIGRATE. We do not need you.
If I emigrate to a country it is because I want to be ONE OF THAT COUNTRIES CITIZENS AND ADOPT THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
If people do not want to adopt our way of life then EMIGRATE.
Our country has freedoms, which also includes the freedom to leave if you dont like it here.
I welcome people who want to be British, not someone who wants me to be a foreigner in my own Country.
I feel Stateless, this bent and corrupt Government has stolen my country from me,
Maybe I should now emigrate.to get away from this lunatic government.

Captain Kong, Liverpool, UK

To paraphrase Dorothy Parker: you can lead a hodge to culture, but you can't make her think!

Frances Bulwer, Brussels, Belgium

Most people seem upset by the flatulent Hodge. In fact they are so upset that they call the present divisive government 'socialist'.

There is now the greatest gap between rich and poor since the '20's. Education has to be 'leveled' for all but the rich, especially rich politicians, who send their progeny to private schools on what we pay them. I could go on about 'non-doms' and selling off major national assets for a song to their off shore tax haven colleagues, but I won't. Socialists? I do not think so.

Not long now.

Frosty, Carmarthen,

This lady with her comments encapsulates all that is wrong with this government's thinking and all that is wrongly dragging the country backwards. Poltical correctness or political stupidity?
I was taught "when in Rome".
Perhaps she should encourage newcomers to Britain into a sense of Britishness by inviting them to attend the proms (particulary the last night) where they would be warmly welcomed!

Alan Southampton, Southampton, UK

If someone doesn't want to listen to the Proms, then that's their choice. Let them go and play their own music somewhere else, and invite Margaret Hodge to join them!

Roy Morris, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Maybe this remark was just intended to give Gordon Brown an opportunity to defend the proms and show he's not one of those 'champagne socialists'.
I seem to remember the BBC, another democratically elected organisation, also wanted to stop supporting the proms for similar reasons.

DavidC, Canterbury,

Nulabour clearly need a rehabilitation course to restore them to sanity. Perhaps the NHS could provide one - strap them down in a comfortable chair and subject them to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance marches, Enigma Variations & symphonies; Walton's Crown Imperial; Blake's Jerusalem; Rule Britannia & most of Vaughan Williams.
They might be restored to full health - or they may be so traumatised that they will immediately renounce their citizenship and emigrate. Either way this country wins.

Dave, Wrexham,

Was I mistaken, or did I hear tthat the government wanted all schoolchildren to have the benefit of cultural outings while at school? When I was 11 <mumble> years ago, I was lucky enough to attend the Ernest Wood concerts at the Royal Festival Hall. Has Ms Hodge really lost her way completely? What about all those people who attend not just the Proms in Albert Hall, but also those who join in Proms in the Park? I am the last to try to force classical music on those who do not like, or do not understand it - but I will at least support the right of those who, for instance, enjoy heavy metal. As long as they don't wish it on me, I shall endeavour to ensure that I do not force my tastes on them - so come on, Ms Hodge - live and let live - and keep away from this wonderfully historic event....

Tony Reeve, Potters Bar, UK/Hertfordshire

I am a Scot, born and bred but what is it with you English, why did you vote in the Scottish Labour Party to run your country again at the last election? I cannot believe you voted to hand power to the cretins currently running the country. Brown is a Psychopath who must have control of everything hence the worst front bench in the history of british politics. Alistair Darling, Des Browne, Douglas Alexander, Gorbals Mick, the list goes on and on. The working class Scots have a hatred of success and feel the middle classes are superior to themselves which makes them want to dismantle anything they dislike. My own children went to a public school and have been spat on, pushed off pavements etc etc when in uniform. The problem is we have too many working, or so called working class and too few middle class. So do us all a favour and vote for middle class England the next time round and send Brown back to Kirkcaldy where he can glower and grimace with the rest of the working class natives

John Robbins, dundee, scotland

Lets just get this spineless government out

Gil, bristol, england

I do get tired of these Labour Women, who have managed to obtain positions way beyond their temperament or ability! The Proms are for all, and she had best GO to the Proms and see how little elitism exists there from floor to gallery.

Requests on ClassicFM show how broad actually is the appeal of all sorts of music

Political posing is so deeply unattractive, no wonder cynicism at politicians is so high.

A Rimington, Scunthorpe, UK

INSANITY !!!!!
There is only one solution.....don't complain....KICK LABOUR OUT!!!!!! Come the next election there is only one party that will defend the country that generations before have died and suffered to build. Time for David Cameron

Gee, London, England

Look forward to her last night.

David Masu, Zürich,

I do not feel comfortable at a football match or mixed up with drunks in public squares. I do however still have one vote!

livesley, mansfield,

I think the Proms are a fantastic British institution. There is nothing wrong with enjoying our own culture through music and through an event that has been running since 1895.
I am currently writing my dissertation on the cultural effect of the Proms and accessibility to people factor in my research as does the choice of repertoire, but to say that people are daunted by the size of the programme does not really make much sense. Surely the ability to have a greater choice of music is a good thing and enables people to broaden their horizons with regards to "classical" music, which is, and has always been the objective of the Proms.

Vaerity, Southampton,

No wonder Gordon Brown got upset after such a stupid remark which will help to guarantee that Labour lose the next election. Typical Labour, telling us what to say and what to think, perhaps the Soviet Union wasn't so bad after all.

Fred James, Worcester,

I am Russian and have been living in London for 3 years now. Love the Proms. Love waiving the flag and sing Jerusalem. I've given up on Coronation Street, though, due to the apparent lack of artistic merit more than anything else.

Now, what is this woman's problem again? Does she mind us enjoying "the best of British"?

Viktorija S, London, UK

Does Mrs Hodge disapprove of black rap concerts and brown raga concerts?

john, london,

Britain is supposed to be an inclusive culture: except that it no longer wants to include the rural community, the middle classes, people over 60, people who prefer intelligence in their culture (as opposed to the Xfactor mob), people who love libraries, people who don't want to watch TV....I am bemused and depressed by this modern 'Brit-lite'.

Kruse, Solihull,

Wow - why don't we just scrape the plate clean and have a neutral classless culturaless country. If Labour want communism then at least do it properly!

P. Blackall, Hants, uk

Is there no end to the interfering busibodiness of this government?

Hands off our culture!

Brit, Shrewsbury,

Margaret Hodge with all the rest of her Nu Labour politicos are dimmer than a 5watt Eco light bulb.

What a bunch of clowns Mr Has-Bean and his Muppets are.

Glenn, Belfast, Northern ireland

Is the Notting Hill carnival too black? Where will this all end ar we no longer allowed to have an event that is historically British with British or dare I say English traditions. This goes too far, I am from a multicultural family and I can safely say that I find this remark and view utterly ridiculous.

Angela Jackson-Grillet, Canterbury, UK

I love the Proms, where else can you pay so little to hear such sublime performances. No dress code for the Gallery, provided you avoid squeeky shoes. I just wish I could attend the whole series, but it is expensive travelling in from Didcot.

Jane Knight, Didcot, UK

I don't actually want it to be inclusive of all -- just British.

Margaret Hodge talks as if stupidity was a virtue......

Phil, Preston,

I am very glad that I live most of the time in Ufa in Russia where waving the Russian flag is not frowned upon, where Russia culture is celebrated. Where a visit to the Opera or Ballet ( Rudolph Nureyev started his ballet career here) is an affordable outing for all walks of society ,average ticket price £1. Reading the outpourings of this bunch of inclusivists which I have to do with monotonous regularity I realise that they just want to dismantle everything that is really British and replace it with their Soviet style vision of Britishness. They are really just a bunch of control freaks. Can we rid ourselves of them before they have completely destroyed our cultural heritage?

rhod mackenzie, Ufa, Russia

No doubt just another idiotic publicity stunt inspired by a crack-brained political adviser anxious to get his invisible mistress into the newspapers.

Stepan, Glasgow, UK

The Proms are already 'multiculteral'.The people from Wales,England,Scotland and both constituent parts of Ireland have enjoyed them for decades as they are.Anybody else who comes to live on this island called the United Kingdom is already more than welcome to do so also.If they do not wish to enjoy the event that is their perogative.

Ian Burns, Swansea, Wales,United Kingdom.

Why does New Labour so hate this country and it's traditions and institutions? it is almost as if we are occupied by a foreign, Britain hating power!

David M, Guildford, Surrey,UK

Mrs Hodge, why don't you try visiting Planet Earth some time soon? You obviously haven't the first idea of what the Proms are about - doubtless in your muddled PC mind you see them as elitism gone mad. Do you really want to see the Proms presented by someone like Russell Brand introducing such class acts as the Pussy Cat Dolls? Your comments must be binned together with the idiocy of suggesting that the Red Arrows are 'too British' for the London Olympics.

I will rejoice if the day ever arrives that we can look upon PC as a thing of the past.

Gabriel Bunce, West Midlands

Gabriel Bunce, Dudley, UK

What would see like to see/hear? A pop "celebrity" knocking British institutions in place of the Promenaders singing Rule Britannia or Land of Hope & Glory?

Chris, Ashford, Middlesex, UK

Margaret Hodges is at it again. The champagne socialist red flag waver and hammer & sickle admirer of yore in Islington. Like that other prize idiot, Mark Elder, they just don’t get it. The last night of the prom is a tongue firmly in the cheeks nationalism. Good clean fun of flag waving and light hearted “classical” music. The door is open to all. I would be most uncomfortable at a pop concert even with cotton wool in my ears, so I do not go but I do not resent those who do. I would love to see Margaret Hodges in the mud at a pop festival. She would love the “music” in the company of “real people”.Or would she? How do drug pushers do at the Proms? Not much business there I think.

Peter Kaldor, Woking, U.K.

Amazing to think that in 'Multi-cultural Britain' the Minister for Culture appears not to agree that cultural diversity is a thing to be proud of if it implies the traditions of a previous heritage. Her comments suggest to me that we should all like the same things and have no right to any preference for anything that does not appeal to the mass market.

So let's look forward to the Last Night performance of Amy Whinehouse and Pete Doherty and the complete removal of any music that dates earlier than the Beatles....with the orchestra - sorry, band - wearing clothes designed by Kate Moss and Phil Green and closing with a rousing rendition of the Red Flag. Then it's off to watch celebrity Big Brother with the populist Pat Hodge in da House! Now wouldn't that be double plus good! Just remember that it is Classic FM that is leading the audience figures and the BBC Proms that is the most famous Music Festival in the world!

I live in Malta but am a British Citizen and proud to be so.

Neil Briscoe White, Sliema, Malta

The size of the programme makes it daunting?! Who are these "critics"? There are more shows on the tv each week than concerts in the proms!
How could a series for which the best tickets cost less than a fiver be classed as inaccessible?!

Michael, London,

Why do these socialists hate British culture so much? The country I grew up in has gone forever, replaced by an intrusive police state, with no sense of community and no moral compass. Every other nation's culture is more valued than their own. Can't they be content with that? What was it that alienated them from Britishness in the first place? Perhaps they should be offered councelling so they can get it off their chests..most of the rest of us were quite happy with the way things used to be!

Jack, chelmsford,

I wonder whether Mrs Hodge has ever attended a last night of the Proms.
Because if she had she would not make such fatuous statements, but then again maybe I am being kind.
This government would not recognise the Proms as anything but elitist, at the very least jingoistic and we could not have that in our wonderful multi cultural society…….

David A Lockwood, York,

Isn't it amazing? yet another anti-British rant from a champagne socialist parasite as Labour show their true colours once again in their hatred of anything they consider to be part of the establishment. The only thing that could make this even worse would be for the Prime Minister to come out with a pack of lies about Labour really supporting the proms(whilst secretly seeking to dismantle them) and then attempt to further deceive the public by claiming Hodge didn't actually mean what she said and that she actually thinks the opposite to the words that fell from her mouth - then we would know Labour truly have utter contempt for the non-ethnic minority British public - oops guess what Gordon has just gone and done !!!

Bryan, Totland Bay, UK

Oh well, if something's not inclusive enough, lets just get rid of it eh? How ridiculous. This blinkered view and insistence on meddling is, ironically, preventing us from settling down as a country as opposed to faciliitating it. If you leave things alone, a natural order and balance will develop - it's just nature at it's simplest. Plus the obvious viewpoint that there should be something for everyone and the proms clearly will appeal to a certain demographic in exactly the same way as the Notting Hill Carnival, Glastonbury or Trooping the Colour.

Just makes you want to put your head in your hands - these people are running the country...

Nick, London,

Gordon Brown’s spokesman insisted that her comments had not been intended as an attack on the Proms, which he praised as a “wonderful, democratic and quintessentially British institution”.

No, it is an attack on British culture and any desire to promote its value. If Hodge is so ashamed of being British perhaps she should consider renouncing her citizenship in exchange for that of another country where she feels more at home.

One day Britain, when the likes of Hodge have been rumbled for the damage they are causing, will be a proud nation again and millions of expats now living in exile overseas, myself included, will be able to return.

My fear is that this is still decades away from becoming reality.

Edwin, Bucharest,

A so-called minister for culture is accusing the concerts of not being accessible! Has she ever been to a Prom and seen the size of the motley crowd that's having the time of their lives on so many evenings in the summer?

Let's hope there will be no dumbing down of any of these concerts in the future.

Dafydd, Pwllglas, Sir Ddinbych

You are way out of line Mrs. Hodge. It would probably be true to say that classical music-lovers all over the world are very envious of the existence of such a comprehensive series of concerts; and to realise that everyone of them (as far as I know) is broadcast as well is just the icing on the cake. I speak as someone who has sung at a prom back in1972 as a member of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. It is one of my favourite memories as an erstwhile professional chorister. Nobody is forced to attend a prom, lets remember that. Whether or not one likes the last night high jinks (I think it could be toned down a wee bit) has got nothing to do with it. Is this yet another case of political correctness rearing its ugly head? Let us bury the PC brigade once and for all. A "shared sense of common cultural identity" ? Rubbish.

Chris, Mississauga, Canada

Mr Cameron has sent a note of thanks to Hodge, "embodying common belongings" of those of us who think she is an air head.
The itch that socialists no longer get to scratch makes fools of them all.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

How many clangers can one woman include in one speech?

Quote: "She also suggested that British citizenship ceremonies be held in historic buildings like castles, theatres and museums ". She's a week late with that "new suggestion", the 1st citizenship ceremony was held in the Tower of London over a week ago, what could be more of a historic building than that? (or is that too "British" a location?).

Quote:"shared sense of common cultural identity" was a key part of social integration and cohesion. This followed by how something like Jerry Springer the Opera appears to imply that "good" culture is something that a wide variety of people enjoy, surely this is not the case and to imply that such "popular" ventures are the ones worthy of support (whether financial or otherwise) would lead to a bland and indirectly sensored cultural environment (by reason of lack of funding into cultural enterprises deemed overly "British" or non inclusive) Not helpful Ms Hodge.

SJ, London,

Not everyone actually likes the kind of music showcased during the Proms - it has nothing to do with certain sections of the population not feeling "comfortable" attending...anyone that is interested in classical music would have no problem going to watch as far as I can see

Seems to be another example of the obsession that many politicians and "authority figures" seem to have with extreme political correctness - have they all forgotten that people in this country have diverse, wide ranging interests, likes and dislikes?! The fact that the Proms caters for the tastes of a relatively small section of the public makes it neither racist nor exlusive in nature - it's just the way it is!

Sally, london,

Isn't this just inverted snobbery? Corrie is OK, the Angel of the North (because it is gritty and 'real' and Northern) - not sure how the British Museum sneaked in there - surely that's elitist if you don't get archeaology? Or does Ms Hodge just not like classical music? If the arts were supported so that everyone could easily attend such events, there wouldn't be any kind of divide and all classes and races of people could attend. After all, all classes and races of people go to the Notting Hill carnival.

paternoster square, Kingston upon Thames,

This is one of the most stupid remarks I have ever heard Margaret Hodge make, and she is without doubt a complete fruitloop. What does she want - bingo calling between movements?

Peter, Cambridge,

I can't think of anything in the arts that is more British than the Proms. Therefore where does this woman get the idea from that British people cannot feel comfortable with it? Certainly other countries seem to have no problem with it. I understand that the Germans for example screen the last night at the Proms on TV every year to huge viewing audiences. If it's good enough for them it must surely be good enough for anyone who is a citizen of this great country.

figurewizard, hampshire, UK

Hodge is unbelievably out of touch with any but her multi-cultural, politically correct closet advisers.

The Proms have changed significantly if slowly over the years to embrace modern music and jazz. for example. The trouble for Hodge is that the concerts are hugely popular with herv supposed middle-class enemies and stoutly independent of government pressure or manipulation. They must stick in the throat of the anti-British appeasers occupying the Whitehall political machine.

Long live the independent, musically magnificent and responsive Proms. Let Hodge and her culturally ruinous TV soap brigade dissapear in their own fog of misplaced, multicultural infatuation.

Ken Robertson, Oxford, United kingdom

What a stupid stupid woman. By the way, the Notting Hill Carnival is bit divisive as well. Sack the lot of them while we still have a Country please.

Roger, Surrey,

She also suggested that British citizenship ceremonies be held in historic buildings like castles, theatres and museums to help people "associate their new citizenship with key cultural icons"

if a new citizen needs to have their citizenship ceremony in a "key cultural icon" someone hasnt done enough to inculcate the culture and heritage to them... i think, it would be better just to make them read churchill's a history of the english speaking world.

jason, lake jackson, texas

Well done to David Cameron: Cameron 1, Labour -10!

hall, Sheffield, UK

Er, I thought the Albert Hall was a key cultural icon.
As for jingoistic flag waving, why not? Every other country does it. Why do the British have to be so 'understanding' when the favour is never returned.
Why are we so wimpy?

Alice Starr, Red Lodge, USA

There is really some irony to this story . Many of the female Labour MP's (although in fairness , the men are too ) are so unimpressive that I can only assume they got the job to fill quota's and to make Labour more "representative" ... We can't really blame her for trying to continue this trend .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

'Common belonging'?? Nonsense from Hodge, and Brown's response is typically wide of the mark. I'd have expected Cameron to make more sense, though...

The Proms aren't some jingoistic, Britain-is-great event (although The Last Night can be, if not handled carefully...no doubt that is what these comments were intended to be aimed at).

How many British composers are represented at the Proms, anyway? Elgar, RVW and Britten, typically, plus a couple of (less listenable) members of the new order.

The Proms are simply for people who like classical music (whether it's British, Russian, German or Czech). Go to an Arctic Monkeys gig if you want to feel a sense of booze-induced bonhomie.

David Harrison, Manchester, UK

The Proms are nothing to do with HM Government and they should keep their big noses out.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Another case of foot in mouth by Labour's joined up government.

Try engaging brain before opening mouth.

Next election can't come a day to soon.

Geoff C, Cambridge, UK

Well done Hodge, maybe we should stop talking English and rename a new langauge 'British' with aspects from all nationalities in the island along the Grenwich meridian. Gutema'abonee! Or some form of new greeting if you don't happen to know germandarabicfrench. Idiots in charge of the country? Well I never. If you have nothing good to say, in whatever language,....

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,