The proposal, however well-intended, to move Emmeline Pankhurst’s statue from its current location in Victoria Tower Gardens to the private Regent’s University in London must be stopped (Campaigners oppose plan to move statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, 18 August).
This statue was erected in the Gardens by subscription from former suffragettes in 1930, and when moved to its present site, a promise was made by the Ministry of Works that it would not be moved again. Its historic importance is well known and must be honoured.
However, Caroline Criado-Perez’s claim that the plan to remove the Pankhurst statue would be an “act of vandalism against women’s history” must be questioned. The current situation has largely arisen because of her refusal to cooperate with the Pankhurst Trust, headed by Sir Neil Thorne, who favoured the erection of two statues in Canning Green, one of Pankhurst and one of the other great campaigner for women’s enfranchisement, suffragist Millicent Fawcett.
This was an act of “vandalism” on Criado-Perez’s part since she had originally campaigned for a statue of a “suffragette”, which attracted over 85,000 signatures and then suddenly led the successful Fawcett Society campaign for a statue only of Fawcett. To celebrate Fawcett alone is to present fake history. Women’s history was been “vandalised” in a most appalling, publicity-seeking way
June Purvis
School of Social, Historical & Literary Studies, University of Portsmouth
• A recent survey by the BBC History magazine found that Emmeline Pankhurst is recognised by the public as the third most important woman to have had a significant impact on the world (Report, 9 August). It seems obvious she should have a well-lit place among other important political figures, including Millicent Fawcett, in front of parliament, rather than being tucked away to a less visible shaded spot on Victoria Tower Gardens at the side of parliament.
Surely the suffragettes would have supported a more prominent place for a memorial to her?
Cllr Diana Meale
Nottinghamshire county council
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