Public Statues

Opened the debate

Statues are essential to educate us about history, culture, and heritage. They commemorate influential individuals and events from various walks of life. However, statues have recently been a focal point of controversy, especially during the coronavirus pandemic due to protests against historical figures with controversial backgrounds. The speech emphasised that removing statues should be done through proper channels and not through illegal means. Sir David supported the proposal for a statue of Queen Elizabeth II for her platinum jubilee and highlighted his efforts in securing statues for Raoul Wallenberg and Eric Cole. He also proposed a statue for Dame Vera Lynn, recognising her significant contributions during World War II. The speech addressed the need to improve diversity in public statues, highlighting that only 80 named women are represented among the numerous statues of men.

Government Response

The Minister praised Sir David Amess for raising an important issue and highlighted the complexity surrounding the removal or erection of public statues. He emphasised that history shapes us, and erasing parts of our heritage could harm our understanding of it. The Government supports retaining and explaining statues rather than removing them. Innovative approaches such as talking statues were mentioned to provide context around contested figures. Minister Warman also expressed support for the proposed statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Dame Vera Lynn. He condemned recent protests that defaced statues, highlighting the importance of respecting memorials. The Minister concluded by expressing hope for dialogue and improved contextualisation of historical figures.