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Robert Baden-Powell: Scouts founder statue to be removed in Poole Robert Baden-Powell statue to be removed in Poole
(about 1 hour later)
A statue of the man who founded the Scouts movement is being removed from Poole Quay amid fears it is on a "target list for attack".A statue of the man who founded the Scouts movement is being removed from Poole Quay amid fears it is on a "target list for attack".
BCP Council said it was removing the Robert Baden-Powell statue for its protection on police advice. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said it was removing the statue of Robert Baden-Powell for its protection on police advice.
The authority said it recognised some aspects of his life were considered "less worthy of commemoration".The authority said it recognised some aspects of his life were considered "less worthy of commemoration".
The statue was installed in 2008 and faces Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, where the Scouts began. Local Conservative MPs said they were opposed to the removal of the statue.
Baden-Powell has been criticised by campaigners who have accused him of racism, homophobia and support for Adolf Hitler. Baden-Powell, who died aged 83 in 1941, has been criticised by campaigners who have accused him of racism, homophobia and support for Adolf Hitler.
Former Bournemouth East Labour parliamentary candidate Corrie Drew was one of those calling for the monument to be taken down, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.Former Bournemouth East Labour parliamentary candidate Corrie Drew was one of those calling for the monument to be taken down, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: "A quick look into his history shows that he was very open about his views against homosexuality and that he was a very open supporter of Hitler and of fascism and quite a strong outspoken racist. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: "A quick look into his history shows that he was very open about his views against homosexuality and that he was a very open supporter of Hitler and of fascism and quite a strong, outspoken racist.
"We can commemorate the positive work without commemorating the man.""We can commemorate the positive work without commemorating the man."
BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council leader Vikki Slade said the life-size statue was being removed later on Thursday and put into safe storage. 'Error of judgment'
"We have had police advice that this statue is on a target list for attack and due to its proximity to the water and its delicate and historic nature I was asked to approve its temporary removal," she said. Writing on Twitter, Tobias Ellwood, Tory MP for Bournemouth East, said: "Few historical figures comply with 21st C values. Simply expunging past connections from sight won't correct wrongs or help us better learn from our past."
The council said it acknowledged the differing views of the life activities of Baden-Powell and planned to properly involve all relevant communities and groups in discussions about its future. Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, tweeted that he was "opposed" to the permanent removal of the statue.
It said Dorset County Scouts had been advised and supported the position. The Tory MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, also tweeted that the removal was "a huge error of judgment" and urged authorities to "put it back".
A spokesman for the Scout Association said: "We look forward to discussing this matter with the council to make an informed decision on what happens next." Meanwhile. an online petition to "defend Poole's Lord Baden-Powell statue" has received more than 3,500 signatures.
On Sunday, protesters at an anti-racism demonstration in Bristol tore down the statue of Edward Colston and dumped it in the city's harbour. The life-sized statue was installed in 2008 and faces Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, where the Scouts began.
A statue of noted slaveholder Robert Milligan has also been removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands. BCP Council leader Vikki Slade said it was being removed on Thursday and put into safe storage.
In Oxford, thousands of people peacefully protested to remove the statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes on Tuesday as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. "We have had police advice that this statue is on a target list for attack and, due to its proximity to the water and its delicate and historic nature, I was asked to approve its temporary removal," she said.
The council said it acknowledged the differing views of Baden-Powell and it planned to involve all relevant communities and groups in discussions about its future.
A spokesman for the Scout Association said it was "resolute in its commitment to inclusion and diversity and members continually reflect and challenge ourselves in how we live our values".
"We look forward to discussing this matter with the council to make an informed decision on what happens next," he said.
On Sunday, protesters at an anti-racism demonstration in Bristol tore down a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston and dumped it in the city's harbour.
A statue of slaveholder Robert Milligan has also been removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands.
While in Oxford, thousands of people called for the removal of a statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes.