Summary
This article published in The Conversation criticises a proposed change in law which would intervene in the removal or altering of statues, monuments or plaques. Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has proposed a ‘personally interventionist approach’, citing the need to protect heritage and figures significant to British history. He suggests that anyone who wants to remove or alter a statue, monument or plaque must first seek planning permission, which would be under his ‘own determination’. His apparent concern could be seen as scare mongering, politicising the planning permission process and disempowering councils. It is possible that this change would itself make it harder for councils to make decisions democratically about heritage in public spaces. 
AUTHOR
Clemmie Taylor Smith, Researcher, The Decision Problem ​