This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Nationally remove statues and rename streets celebrating controversial figures
Work with historians to identify public statues commemorating historical figures whose positive work has been tarnished by severely negative acts, e.g. slavery, apartheid, child abuse. Re-home them in suitable museums for posterity.
Rename linked streets/buildings with local positive role models.
More details
In the 21st century, an age searching for equality and justice, it is wrong that so many of our streets and buildings reflect the opposite.
A large, national act of solidarity is required that recognises the both the negative acts of historical figures whilst preserving both all failures and achievements for future generations to place their actions in context.
Done correctly this act could unite communities and be marked as a turning point in history for generations.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
Decisions about individual historical monuments, statues, plaques and street names are a matter for the local authority in which they are located and private landowners, not the UK Government or Parliament.
If you want to raise concerns about a particular historical monument or statue you should contact your local authority about this.
The Local Government Association has published an advice note to help councils work to ensure all sections of the community feel heard by decision-makers and each other: https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/community-safety/statues
We have published the following petitions, which you might like to sign:
Encourage and support the removal of memorials that glorify the slave trade: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/325449
Create an advisory board to review public statues and decide on their removal: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/325673
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.