Sir Keir Starmer has sparked jokes about his secret continuing love-in with the EU, after he revealed his favourite piece of classical music.
Speaking to Classic FM this morning, the Labour leader was asked: “What piece of classical music sums up the Labour Party.”
He replied: “One of the pieces I’ve got is Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, the choral Ode to Joy. You’ve got the orchestra, you’ve got the voices, you’ve got this big combination.
“This is very sort of Labour.”
Unfortunately for the Labour leader, it was quickly pointed out that Ode to Joy also happens to be the EU’s national anthem, and has been for half a century.
The EU chose the piece to honour shared European values, as it represents “the ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity”.
Sir Keir added that the tune has a “sense of destiny and is hugely optimistic… it’s that sense of moving forward to a better place, is incredibly powerful”.
Responding to the confession, deputy Tory Chairman Lee Anderson slapped the Remainer leader down, with the simple, three-word retort: “Mine’s ‘Rule Britannia’.”
Fellow Tories also leapt on the comments, with one minister joking: “Surprise, surprise!”
Lord Frost, Boris Johnson’s former Brexit negotiator, said: “One must suspect Starmer of making a pro-EU political point.”
However, he added the EU’s coopting of the classic piece shouldn’t mean Brexiteers can’t also love the tune.
He said: “Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, with Schiller’s Ode to Joy, is one of the most sublime, uplifting, and profound works of the human spirit.
“It is a huge pity that the final movement’s main theme has been appropriated by the bureaucratic monstrosity of the European Union.
“Of course, one must suspect Starmer of making a pro-EU political point, but I don’t think the rest of us should be led to feel we can’t appreciate the music for political reasons!”
Former MEP David Campbell Bannerman commented “Danger danger!!!” And questioned whether it was a signal Labour is moving us to a “World Economic Forum Valhalla”.
One social media user added that the Champion’s league theme tune – Zadok the Priest – is “much better, and still European”, but suggested Sir Keir “didn’t choose that because he’s as working class as a glass of champagne”.
Ironically Sir Keir and Boris Johnson share a love of the pro-EU anthem.
During a 2016 Vote Leave rally, the then-Mayor of London sang Ode to Joy in German to prove he was not a “Little Englander”.
He boasted: “I can read novels in French, I’ve read a novel in Spanish, I can sing the Ode to Joy in German.”
One journalist heckled: “Go on then!” Before the Brexit campaign leader gave a brief rendition.
Sir Keir told Classic FM he enjoys traditional music as it can be “different emotions at different times”.
He said: “So sometimes it’s the powerful symphonies that can be very uplifting.
“These days, it’s more likely to be the end of a really hard day in Parliament, a sort of quiet piano sonata, but just something that removes you.”
