PM’s portrait will hang after all (but protests welcome!)
A PORTRAIT of Theresa May which was taken down from Oxford’s geography department following claims it created a ‘hostile environment’ has been reinstated.
The picture was put into storage in the spring over fears it could be vandalised by protesters who posted critical notes around it.
It was part of a display of notable female ex-students and staff but critics said the portrait was offensive to foreign students because Mrs May had created a ‘hostile environment’ for immigrants.
The decision to remove it prompted concerns that the university was giving in to zealots intent on censoring any political views they disagreed with. Yesterday, the school announced it had rehung the portrait to appear as part of group rather than individually in a line following ‘consultation’ with the academic and student community. The university has also provided a comment ‘space’ so that anyone who disagrees with the portrait can add their views in a designated place.
The school said Mrs May’s portrait had been reinstated because she is ‘a woman alumna of the school in a significant leadership position’.
It added: ‘It is not a comment on her activities in that position: the school is a non-partisan body. We are not afraid of debate. The “engagement space” is designed to encourage contributions.’