The people tearing down controversial statues are erasing British history

Statues are symbols of remembrance and reverence. When the statues concerned depict historical figures who are praised for having orchestrated events which may be deemed offensive, the presence of statues has caused distress among members of the general public. This is primarily due to the conflict between past and actual beliefs and values deemed socially and politically correct. For this reason, many urge that such statues, which may praise slave owners or figures who have expressed racist views, are removed from public spaces such as public squares. For example, during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, protesters unlawfully removed a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.^[1] Those who are against the removal of historical statues, such as PM Boris Johnson and MP Simon Clarke, argue that their removal would seek to tamper with British history. Johnson claims that removing the statues would falsify and censor history, which would contribute to the ignorance of future generations whose understanding of Britain would be incomplete and lacking.^[2] Similarly, Clarke states that the removal of controversial statues would represent an approach to a complex British history, lacking in adequate historical perspective and context, which would negatively impact our learning and understanding. Clarke also asserts that we must take a measured and democratic approach to decide in which public spaces these monuments should be suitably displayed, if the current location of the monument, and not necessarily the statue itself, is a cause of concern.