Sadiq Khan criticised over boarding up statues as PM says it is 'absurd and shameful' they are under attack

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been criticised for the decision to board up statues in the capital as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "absurd and shameful" that they are under attack.The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been criticised for the decision to board up statues in the capital as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "absurd and shameful" that they are under attack.One of the statues covered up ahead of another weekend of anti-racist protests is the tribute to former prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

Tory MPs today accused the Mayor of undermining Churchill's famous "we will never surrender" ethos by springing into action to "appease the mob".Mr Khan said he acted in conjunction with the Met Police to ensure several London landmarks, including the Cenotaph, were protected.But the Prime Minister said: "The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country - and the whole of Europe - from a fascist and racist tyranny."It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protesters. Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial.

"We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations.""We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations."Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP, said both Mr Khan and Scotland Yard's Commissioner Cressida Dick should resign over the move. He said: "Churchill’s famous words 'We will never surrender' is completely undermined by London Mayor Sadiq Kahn’s appeasement of the mob.

"It’s a national humiliation, Sadiq Kahn must resign and so should Cressida Dick.

" Black Lives Matter demonstrators will take to the streets of the capital on Saturday and Sunday, but far-Right groups are expected to challenge them.The Democratic Football Lads Alliance called on supporters to travel to London to protect monuments - including the Churchill statue at Parliament Square - after a number were vandalised in recent protests.Overnight, workers erected scaffolding around the former prime minister's figure and by this morning it was completely boarded up.London Mayor Sadiq Khan asked people to stay at home this weekend and not join the marches, adding that he was working with the Metropolitan Police and its partners to ensure monuments at risk are covered and protected.

Reference: The Telegraph: Gareth Davies : 12 June 2020