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Housing Secretary ridiculed after vowing to protect statues as government presides over 100,000 Covid deaths
The controversial statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College, University of Oxford
by Bethany Rielly
HOUSING SECRETARY Robert Jenrick faced ridicule today after vowing to bring in new protections for statues while his government presides over 100,000 Covid-19 deaths.
The Tory minister wants to safeguard every statue and give himself powers to veto decisions made by councils to remove monuments.
Under law changes to be published on Monday, any decision to remove a statue, monument or other memorial will require planning permission and a consultation with the local community.
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