150th anniversary of the death of David Livingstone

That this House marks the 150th anniversary of the death of David Livingstone, who remains one of the UK’s most well-known historical figures; acknowledges Livingstone’s remarkable life as the son of a mill-worker from Blantyre, who was initially self-taught and qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Glasgow, before later leading mapping and exploration expeditions in Central and East Africa; recognises the stance he took against slavery and his continued remembrance in East Africa and particularly Malawi, where he spent much of his life; understands that, viewed through a modern lens, Livingstone’s legacy like many of his era can be challenging, however believes this offers us an opportunity to review our role and understanding of the UK’s connection with Africa through his life; notes that a major refurbishment has been completed at the The David Livingstone Birthplace Museum in Blantyre, a museum and centre for exploring historic and contemporary experiences of black history and colonisation; further notes that the David Livingstone Trust has begun exploring how Livingstone’s life and legacy retains relevance in a society that has, over the last century, radically re-evaluated many of the areas that his life touched on, including but not limited to spirituality and faith, colonialism and slavery, and the UK’s relationship with Africa; and commends the ambition of the David Livingstone Trust to use his legacy as the catalyst for the formation of a National Centre for the Study of the UK’s Colonial Legacy at Blantyre.