Scotland’s first black professor appointed to lead statue review

Scotland’s first black professor Sir Geoff Palmer has been a p p o i n t e d l e a d a r e v i e w o f Edinburgh’s statues and street names which commemorate those with close links to slavery.

The city council announced S i r G e o f f, wh o i s a l e a d i n g human rights activist, would c h a i r t h e E d i n b u rg h S l av - er y and Colonialism Legacy Review Group, which is due to meet for the first time before the end of the year.

T h e m o v e c o m e s i n t h e wake of protests over the Melville monument in St Andrew S q u a r e , wh i c h c o mme mo - rates 18th century Home Secretary Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, who is seen as responsible for delaying the abolition of slavery in Britain by 15 years from 1772 to 1807.

The group’s remit will cover any features within the counc i l b o u n d a r y w h i c h c o m - memorate those with close links to slaver y and colonialism, including, but not limited to, public statues and monu me n t s , s t r e e t o r b u i l d i n g names.

The group will be asked to make recommendations for a programme of actions and activities to rectify the glorification of slavery and colonialism which these commemorations represent to many people. It will consider all options, including the removal of statues.

S i r G e o f f , w h o i s p r o f e s - sor emeritus in the school of life sciences at Heriot-watt U n i v e r s i t y a n d h o n o r a r y president of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equalit y Council, said: “I regard this appointment as a great hono u r a n d d u t y t o wo r k wi t h the group and the community to ensure the council’s aim of fairness and justice to all is realised."

He will now recruit the other members of the group, with the aim of bringing together people from a range of backgrounds and expertise including communit y leaders and figures from the cultural and arts world, as well as academic representatives. There is an expected emphasis on having a very strong BAME representation.

Council leader Adam Mcvey said: “We have a responsibility to face up to our city’s past, the good and the bad. While this review is ab out the stor y of our city, it’s not about statues of people long gone. It’s about people who live here now and their experience.

"T h e B l a c k L i v e s M a t t e r movement shone a bright light on structural exclusions faced by people in all areas of life."