Petition · past parliament
Nationally remove statues and rename streets celebrating controversial figures
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
Rename linked streets/buildings with local positive role models.
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.
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.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
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: Encourage and support the removal of memorials that glorify the slave trade
Create an advisory board to review public statues and decide on their removal: Create an advisory board to review public statues and decide on their removal
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: Encourage and support the removal of memorials that glorify the slave trade
Create an advisory board to review public statues and decide on their removal: Create an advisory board to review public statues and decide on their removal
Timeline
| 9 Jun 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Jun 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
22 Jun 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.