Britons have blasted an ‘insane’ and ‘bloody awful’ One Britain song after it went viral online ahead of so-called One Britain, One Nation day.
The song, which appears to have Government backing, provoked ridicule after it went viral online, with critics calling it ‘ridiculous’ and ‘an embarrassment’.
Parents have pointed out the irony of Scottish children being unable to join in because schools there break up before One Britain One Nation day on June 25.
Others slammed the Government for encouraging teachers to pause lessons to teach children the words.
On Monday the Department for Education’s official Twitter account promoted the OBON day and linked to its website. OBON wants schools to hold a minute’s applause on Friday and sing the song.
The song’s creators say it promotes ‘love and unity’ and encourages all pupils to show ‘love for our great nation’.
But the video soon went viral online as the nation appeared to unite against the song, calling it ‘ridiculous’, ‘pernicious dross’ and ‘a party political move’.
Schools are being encouraged to adopt a bizarre song to celebrate a ‘One Britain One Nation’ day this Friday. OBON wants schools to hold a minute’s applause on Friday and sing the song. Pictured: People hold up a OBON flag
On Monday the Department for Education’s official Twitter account (pictured) promoted the OBON day and linked to its website. OBON wants schools to hold a minute’s applause on Friday and sing the song
The song is called ‘We are Britain and we have one dream, to unite all people in one great team’, which are also the words of the chorus.
It also includes the lines: ‘Our nation survived through many storms and many wars/We’ve opened our doors, and widened our island’s shores/We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts/United for ever, never apart.’
The tune was composed by children and their music teacher at St John’s CofE Primary in Bradford, and adopted by the One Britain One Nation campaign, set up by former police officer Kash Singh.
But a slew of derision has been posted online since yesterday.
One user said: ‘To what terrible parallel universe have I been transported?’
Another said: ‘They should put that song into Eurovision. They hate us as it is, so we might as well go for broke.’
A third said: ‘It’s just so bad. It still manages to gets worse every single time you hear it.’ A fourth said: ‘Anyone who tweets that ridiculous One Britain song in my timeline earns an automatic block.’
Another added: ‘Please don’t tell me the Tories really turned our country into such an embarrassment?’
Others complained One Britain One Nation day was leaving out Scottish children, who will have broken up for their summer holidays by then.
Most Scottish schools will end term on June 23, two days before the national day.
One said: ‘Scotland’s schools finish before the 25th of June ! Do some some research.’
Another added: ‘This uniting song to be sung by all kids in the great one nation on 25th is when Scots kids are on holiday. How can u not see this constant flag waving is odd?’
‘Apart from the fact that this nation within your “one nation” is on summer holiday, that song is just down right creepy. Sack whoever had that idea,’ said another.
Others just hated the song itself, while a few tried to stick up for the children who wrote it.
One said: ‘I know people have been having fun about the One Nation song but this song was written by schoolchildren. It isn’t their fault is has been used by adults to impose it on the rest of us. Be kind and remember how you would feel if you were one of those children.’
But others were less diplomatic.
One added: ‘This song is pernicious dross. Idiotic sentiments and a crap tune. And “one nation” is a longstanding Conservative slogan, so it’s an unambiguous party political move.’
A slew of derision has been posted online since the song went viral yesterday
Another said: ‘My youngest who is still at school will not be singing this. Like most things the government come up with nowadays, it’s abhorrent.’
One added: ‘I think One Britain One Nation should be cancelled on the grounds it’s a bloody awful song.’
The One Britain campaign was set up by former police officer Kash Singh (pictured)
Another wrote: ‘I had absolutely, genuinely assumed this “One Nation” song thing was a spoof. It’s not? What the hell?! That’s insane.’
Others doubted teachers’ ability to teach the song to children with such short notice.
One wrote: ‘Do they expect primary school kids to learn a song in the space of a week? They start rehearsing the nativity in Sept.’
The One Nation campaign lists its aim as being ‘to create, a strong, fair, harmonious and a proud British Nation, celebrating patriotism and respect for all our people’.
‘OBON day’ is scheduled for Friday, June 25, and the campaign wants children to sing the official song.
It calls on schools to hold a minute’s applause on the designated day – June 25 – and sing the official song or play it through the school’s tannoy system.
Schools are also encouraged to dress children in red, white and blue for the day and ‘allow children to unpack the meaning of shared values of British Citizenship’.