I am against removing Sir Winston Churchill's statue
But first sentence says: "it may seem incredible but there are *serious* proposals to remove the statue".
That *does* seem incredible
Who from? Can anyone give me names of 1% of MPs (7) or 2 dozen "serious" voices saying so
But first sentence says: "it may seem incredible but there are *serious* proposals to remove the statue".
That *does* seem incredible
Who from? Can anyone give me names of 1% of MPs (7) or 2 dozen "serious" voices saying so
I'd be happy to produce accurate version
"We know of v few people who want to remove Churchill's state. There is very broad support across those of all ethnic groups to keep it. We are sure there is no chance at all of its removal"
"We know of v few people who want to remove Churchill's state. There is very broad support across those of all ethnic groups to keep it. We are sure there is no chance at all of its removal"
"Churchill played an essential role in the history of this country at crucial moment in 1940-45.
That defeat of the evils of fascism is rightly celebrated across our society.The armies that won World War Two from Britain and Commonwealth look more like the GB of 2020 than 1940"
That defeat of the evils of fascism is rightly celebrated across our society.The armies that won World War Two from Britain and Commonwealth look more like the GB of 2020 than 1940"
"Churchill was involved in many controversies in a long public career. He was right about biggest issue of his century with mixed, flawed record on many other issues inc Empire & race.
Statue should stay & we should have confidence to explore all aspects of our history fully"
Statue should stay & we should have confidence to explore all aspects of our history fully"
My anecdotal snapshot of ethnic minority opinion has so far had 1 tweet in favour of removing statue, about 75 to keep it.
So-called campaign to remove statue appears to me to be a Phantom Menace. (Maybe a few students & fringe far left groups want that)
So-called campaign to remove statue appears to me to be a Phantom Menace. (Maybe a few students & fringe far left groups want that)
I hope MPs of all parties would consider
* supporting this, But removing first sentence/paragraph (because "serious proposals" simply does not seem to be in any way accurate/true)
* Add para noting WW2 service & sacrifice across the Commonwealth marked by us all in GB today
* supporting this, But removing first sentence/paragraph (because "serious proposals" simply does not seem to be in any way accurate/true)
* Add para noting WW2 service & sacrifice across the Commonwealth marked by us all in GB today
Do let me know if you'd be in favour of supporting a letter making those points
The Mail on Sunday has a vague reference to "left-wingers"
* Vandalism + criminal damage on a protest march, by a small group of individuals (part of a much larger protest)
* Emma Soames saying maybe, sadly, if widespread division/ opposition (for which there is no evidence,)
* Vandalism + criminal damage on a protest march, by a small group of individuals (part of a much larger protest)
* Emma Soames saying maybe, sadly, if widespread division/ opposition (for which there is no evidence,)
If 30-50 MPs come out to remove statue, I would concede it had become "serious" proposal (albeit with zero chance of success)
Obvs false to call it a "serious proposal" if less than 7 (current running total, as far as I know, is zero) of 643 MPs who take their seats support it
Obvs false to call it a "serious proposal" if less than 7 (current running total, as far as I know, is zero) of 643 MPs who take their seats support it
I hope Mail on Sunday will reflect that next week.
It says it wants to undermine far right
Showing statue broadly popular among ethnic minorities could mitigate (not stoke) heightened (inaccurate) sense of threat/fear, esp in undiverse areas, low social contact with minorities
It says it wants to undermine far right
Showing statue broadly popular among ethnic minorities could mitigate (not stoke) heightened (inaccurate) sense of threat/fear, esp in undiverse areas, low social contact with minorities
Anyway, also v.happy to "Save Sir Winston"
The Prime Minister already gave the assurance (on Friday) that the campaign is asking for - but I am sure he will be able to write a piece giving the same assurance again, next week, to see off this Phantom Menace to Churchills statue
The Prime Minister already gave the assurance (on Friday) that the campaign is asking for - but I am sure he will be able to write a piece giving the same assurance again, next week, to see off this Phantom Menace to Churchills statue
A 29 year old organiser for the network/movement Black Lives Matter has given an interview in favour of the statue's removal to a museum, describing this (implausibly) as a "win-win" proposal, and saying (implausibly) that "the black nation" supports that
My essay on making sense of the statues debate
Ludicrous missed opportunity to take something there is such a broad consensus on (Churchill's statue) and try to manufacture a Phantom culture war out of (obvs) keeping it - by pretending it's under threat
capx.co/how-talking-mo…
Ludicrous missed opportunity to take something there is such a broad consensus on (Churchill's statue) and try to manufacture a Phantom culture war out of (obvs) keeping it - by pretending it's under threat
capx.co/how-talking-mo…
I know it can be a good stunt to start a winnable campaign. This is a calli n a Sunday newspaper for a Prime Minister to repeat that they said last week
I'm delighted to see @DavidLammy join me in also defending the Winston Churchill statue (for his WW2 role, despite his flaws).
We defend his statue against almost nobody at all.
Our Popular Front shall see off this Invisible Foe!
We defend his statue against almost nobody at all.
Our Popular Front shall see off this Invisible Foe!
The PM has vowed to protect the Churchill statue!
Exciting times for those of us (ie, almost everyone) who want to keep it.
Take that, invisible foes!
Who'd have imagined, after he promised to keep it on Friday, that this promise could be repeated so quickly on the Monday?
Exciting times for those of us (ie, almost everyone) who want to keep it.
Take that, invisible foes!
Who'd have imagined, after he promised to keep it on Friday, that this promise could be repeated so quickly on the Monday?
