Oxford to defy zealots and keep statue of Cecil Rhodes

OXFORD University’s statue of Cecil Rhodes will remain in place after threats from donors, it was reported last night.

The governing body of Oriel College is believed to have ruled out taking it down after warnings that £1.5million of donations had already been cancelled

The college has faced intense lobbying to remove the ‘racist’ statue by a vociferous group of students under the Rhodes Must Fall campaign. It is understood that donors were ‘astonished’ that officials were considering a six-month consultation over whether the statue of the 19th century colonialist and college benefactor, pictured, should be removed.

Oriel initially agreed to install a replacement plaque providing historical ‘context’ but said it wanted more time to consider the fate of the statue. The college has now been forced into a corner by the financial might of its modern-day benefactors. The governing body was told that since the start of the campaign, ‘at least one major donation of £500,000’ that was expected this year has been cancelled, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A ‘potential £750,000 donor’ has also stopped responding to messages from the college, and several alumni have written to Oriel to say ‘they are disinheriting the college from their wills’.

Significantly, one donor who was said to be ‘furious with the college’ is believed to have a legacy worth in excess of £100million. Oriel College said in a statement to the Daily Telegraph: ‘The overwhelming message we have received has been in support of the statue remaining in place.

‘The college believes the recent debate has underlined that the continuing presence of these historical artefacts is an important reminder of the complexity of history and of the legacies of colonialism still felt today.’

Sean Power, Oriel’s development director, had warned governors in a report that the likely long-term impact on fundraising was ‘potentially extremely damaging’.