Oxford and Mosley
sir – The decision by St Peter’s College, Oxford, to accept a donation from the late Max Mosley’s trust disqualifies it from ever removing “tainted” names and statues from its environment.
It attempts to justify taking money from a family of committed racists and fascists, on the grounds of the good works that the money will enable. If that argument is accepted, there can be no reason to “cancel” visible, historic associations with descendants of those who profited from the slave trade and benefited the university.
St Peter’s is displaying venal hypocrisy and deserves all the ridicule coming its way.
Lord Grade of Yarmouth
London SW1
sir – The difference between the Mosley millions and the benefit still derived from the donations of the benefactors of centuries ago (and the consequent honouring of their memories in buildings and statuary) is that in the times of their bequests the latter were not believed to have done anything wrong – indeed, were often regarded as the outstanding pioneers and reformists of their day – whereas Sir Oswald Mosley’s views were regarded as hateful and regressive even when he was alive, and just as much so at the time of donation.
The moral contortions involved in accepting such money are alive in the here and now, unlike those that require the long dead to be exhumed for show trial and public desecration by the woke and the historically incontinent.
Surely even the worst Oxford college should be able to make that distinction?
Victor Launert
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
sir – The Emperor Vespasian, holding up a gold coin, observed that Pecunia non olet – “Money doesn’t smell”. He’d just imposed a tax on urine. Oxford University seems to take a similar line in accepting substantial donations from the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and software conglomerate Tencent, and now from the Mosleys.
Money may not smell, but it can buy influence and status, and can bias policy, erode history, and compromise independence. It can make a great university look like a plaything for dubious entities that want a bit of its prestige for themselves.
Graham Chainey
Brighton, East Sussex