In the debate about Britain’s colonial heritage, the British government wants to save the country’s monuments from being destroyed or renamed. In a guest article in the Sunday Telegraph, British building minister Robert Genrich wrote, “I will change the law to protect historical monuments and make it clear that we are not repeating the mistakes of previous generations.”

In the future, if parts of the British cultural heritage were to be removed, a formal process would be initiated. Conservative politicians want to clarify the details of their legislative proposal in Parliament on Monday.

Monument Fall from Black Lives Matter

Generics has been responding to several memorial attacks since last summer. During protests in the United States against the violent death of African-American George Floyd in May, protesters in Bristol removed slave trader Edward Colstone from his post and threw it into the harbor basin. The action became a symbol of opposition to Black Lives Matter in Britain. Colestone (1636–1721) has been revered as a beneficiary in Bristol for centuries for its support of poor homes and schools. However, most of his wealth was based on the slave trade.

A statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was also repeatedly attacked in Parliament Square, central London. The renaming of roads, squares or monuments associated with Britain’s colonial past has also been debated. The famous British Museum had removed a group of its founding father Hans Hainane, who had the work of slaves from his original place on his initiative.

Minister Generich criticized the action: “We will protect Britain’s statues from vigilant militants who want to stop our past.”

Boris Johnson annoyed by “self-discrimination”

Trouble was last seen in Great Britain due to two very patriotic songs that are traditionally played at the famous “Last Night of the Proms” concert. Critics asked for the piece to be removed from the program. »Rules at work, Britannia! … Since 1740, it states, among other things: »Rule Britannia … Brits will never be slaves. «Many Britons always sing the song as well as waving Union Jack at the closing ceremony of the annual summer concert series. Flag. The song “Land of Hope and Glory”, which is always played at the end, was also on the verge.

After a dispute, the BBC, as organizer, found a solution: both songs could be heard in orchestral versions – that is, without singing. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted to the changes at the time. He called for an end to “self-discrimination”.