Brits confused over 'Ode to Joy' song choice playing during Keir Starmer's resignation as UK Prime Minister
Labour's Keir Starmer has just resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after succeeding Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party back in July 2024.
Starmer made his resignation announcement at Downing Street earlier this morning (22 June), telling reporters: "The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace.
"Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty, the King, this morning to inform him of my decision."
Advert
He continued: "I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable with nominations, opening on the 9th of July, and completed by the summer recess. In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September."
He announced he'll stay in office until a contest for the position 'is complete'.
"And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power. I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago."
During the announcement, Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' was playing in the background - something which left many Brits seriously confused given the subject matter.
The song was later adopted by the Council of Europe and the European Union as the Anthem of Europe.
Anti-Brexit activist Steve Bray was reportedly the person behind the blaring music played on loudspeakers during Starmer's resignation speech.
LBC reporter Lewis Goodall wrote: "Steve Bray blasting Ode to Joy, ruining nationally historic moments like this for us and posterity, is a complete disgrace. A yob."
One X user questioned: "Who is playing Ode to Joy in the background at Downing Street?"
"Oh no!!!! They've got the rogue sound machine blaring Ode to Joy in the background," penned a second.
A third chimed in: "Kudos to whoever is blasting Ode to Joy."
"Whoever’s playing Ode to Joy behind Starmer’s resignation speech is diabolical," commented a fourth as a fifth mused: "Keir Starmer resigning to the backdrop of Ode to Joy on loudspeakers in Whitehall is somewhat surreal. Like an Instagram reel."
Another echoed: "I thought Rishi Sunak's prime ministerial resignation speech in the rain was the weirdest ever - but Keir Starmer's speech with the Ode to Joy blaring in the background is even stranger."
And a final X user added: "Who was playing Ode To Joy while Keir Starmer resigned?! I love that blasting inappropriate music during Prime Minister resignations has become a recent tradition in British politics."
Two years ago, Bray played 'Things Can Only Get Better' when Sunak announced a general election.
Topics: UK News, Keir Starmer, Politics, Music, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle