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| Robert Baden-Powell statue to be removed in Poole | Robert Baden-Powell statue to be removed in Poole |
| (32 minutes 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". |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said it was removing the statue of Robert Baden-Powell 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". |
| Local Conservative MPs said they were opposed to the removal of the statue. | Local Conservative MPs said they were opposed to the removal of the statue. |
| 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. | 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 said: "We can commemorate the positive work without commemorating the man." | |
| Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she added: "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." | |
| 'Error of judgment' | 'Error of judgment' |
| Meanwhile, an online petition to "defend Poole's Lord Baden-Powell statue" has received more than 3,500 signatures. | |
| Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, tweeted that he was "opposed" to the permanent removal of the statue. | Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, tweeted that he was "opposed" to the permanent removal of the statue. |
| 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 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". | 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". |
| The life-sized statue was installed in 2008 and faces Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, where the Scouts began. | The life-sized statue was installed in 2008 and faces Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, where the Scouts began. |
| BCP Council leader Vikki Slade said it was being removed on Thursday and put into safe storage. | BCP Council leader Vikki Slade said it was being removed on Thursday and put into safe storage. |
| "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. | "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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | While in Oxford, thousands of people called for the removal of a statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. |