First Minister’s home is targeted for slavery links by her own party
NICOLA STURGEON’S residence of Bute House has been named as a site of “historic racial injustice” in a dossier compiled by her own party’s Edinburgh Council coalition.
The city’s SNP and Labour administration launched a review to “rectify the glorification of slavery” following Black Lives Matter protests, which have targeted statues of Lord Nelson, Queen Victoria and poet Robbie Burns.
Bute House has been identified due to its links with plantation owner, sparking calls for Ms Sutgeon to submit to the council review’s directives.
Labour urged Ms Sturgeon and her party to “make public their commitment” to measures for the 18th century townhouse, which could include the “removal or re-interpretation of features” that have “perpetuated racism and oppression”.
Edinburgh Labour leader Cammy Day said: “Any building like Bute House, which may have links to slavery, should be made clear. I would call on the SNP government to support this.” The city’s Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Group, led by activist Sir Geoff Palmer, is reviewing statues, street and buildings and will “consider all options” in order to “to rectify the glorification of slavery and colonialism”, including “removal of statues.”
Statues of figures like Charles II – identified as a slavery financier – have been cited in a dossier compiled for the review, alongside memorials to Admiral Lord Nelson, accused of opposing abolition.
The statue of philosopher David Hume has been included for “advocating of slavery”, alongside four-time Prime Minister William Gladstone for his father’s plantations, and “colonial ruler” Queen Victoria.
The Edinbrgh statue celebrating Burns, regarded as Scotland’s national poet, has also been drawn into the review because, the dossier says, he “accepted a job working on a Jamaican plantation as a ‘Negro driver’.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said that while it is “important to be aware of the legacy of Scotland’s involvement in the slave trade” he would not “advocate taking disproportionate action”.