First black Scottish professor in race row with academics

SCOTLAND’S first black professor has rejected calls to quit a slavery review after he accused fellow academics of being part of a “racist gang”.

Sir Geoff Palmer vowed to defend himself should Sir Tom Devine, an eminent historian, follow through with threats to sue him over the allegation.

The 81-year-old, who was born in Jamaica and moved to the UK as a child, is leading a council-backed review into what should be done about Edinburgh’s links with slavery and colonialism in the “civic realm”, such as street names, buildings and statues.

He accused Sir Tom and Prof Jonathan Hearn, both University of Edinburgh academics, of being part of “an academic racist gang” after Prof Hearn wrote an article claiming his review risked being “historically superficial”.

It is understood Sir Tom, who backed Prof Hearn, will decide next week whether to go ahead with a libel case against Sir Geoff, who is chancellor of Edinburgh’s Heriot-watt University.

The historian has called for Sir Geoff to be dismissed as chairman of the review, claiming he lacked impartiality and “appreciation of different opinions”.

Sir Geoff said: “They’re calling for me to step down – I’m not. He has a right to

‘They’re calling for me to step down – I’m not. He has a right to take legal action but I will defend myself ’

take legal action but I will defend myself. The court can make a decision.”

The row erupted after Prof Hearn’s article in The Spectator cited the case of Henry Dundas, an 18th-century politician. Supporters say he helped to end slavery but opponents claim he delayed abolition. Sir Geoff denounced Dundas as a “slaver”. Prof Hearn claimed the review consultation repeated “distortions” about Dundas.