‘Proud working class’ woman behind bid to remove Baden-Powell statue is Corbynista
A former Labour candidate who describes herself as a “proud working class socialist” is among those demanding the removal of the statue of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell from Poole Quay.
Corrie Drew, who stood in Bournemouth East in 2019, has said that “if you’re white, I don’t give a s*** about your issues with the Black Lives Matter protest or movement.”
Poole Council said it planned to temporarily remove the statue of Robert Baden-Powell over concerns it may be targeted by protesters due to his associations with the Nazis and the Hitler youth programme, as well as his actions in the military.
Ms Drew told the BBC: “He was very open about his views on homosexuality. He was a very open supporter of Hitler and of fascism and quite a strong, outspoken racist.
“I think it’s very easy to just remember the positive from somebody’s life but those are not values that we should be commemorating.”
Writing on Facebook she added: “I’d like to state, in the strongest terms possible: If you’re white, I don’t give a s*** about your issues with the Black Lives Matter protest or movement. We haven’t endured lifelong abuse and discrimination because of our skin colour. Support or shut up.”
Vikki Slade, leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, tweeted the decision to remove it was taken following a “threat”, adding: “It’s literally less than 3m from the sea so is at huge risk.”
A crowd of around 50 current and former Scouts today gathered formed a human shield around the statue to prevent it being put into storage by council officials.
When workmen arrived with a crane to take the memorial away they were stopped by furious Scouts who shouted jeers at a council boss who had arrived to appease the crowd.
Mark Howell, the deputy leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, was met with jeers and shouts of “no way” when he tried to convince them putting the statue in storage was for its own protection.
The council has said it will provide 24-hour security for the statue over concerns it could be attacked by anti-racism campaigners.
Retired engineer and former Scout Len Banister, 79, lifted his walking sticks and shouted: “If they want to knock it down, they will have to knock me down first.”
Len added: “It’s absolutely crazy. Who’s it that actually wants to do it? I’ll fight them off. I’m actually very angry – and I’m not a protester.
“I’ve had a lot of enjoyment because of him in my life because of him.”
Scout Matthew Trott, 27, travelled over 100 miles from his home in Cwmbran, Monmouthshire, to try and protect his hero.
Matthew said: “I support a temporary measure to protect the statue but in the long term it should be back where it belongs.
“Baden-Powell is a hero to me.
“Everyone has made mistakes and most of what has been written about him is not true.”
A former Girl Guide Viv Endecott, wearing her badge from 1972, said: “He’s done more good to the world than virtually any other individual.
“He did visit Germany but he didn’t like what he saw. He’s not a Nazi sympathiser. Anyone who destroys a statue should face the full force of the law.”
Spencer Tuck, 35, said: “Unfortunately he was in fascist times but there is more to it and this statue is nothing to do with racism, it’s to do with the heritage of Poole.”
Writing on Twitter, Tobias Ellwood, Tory MP for Bournemouth East, criticised the way in which the statue removal decision was reached.
He tweeted: “A wider overdue national debate has begun about who we were, who we are & where we should go.
“Few historical figures comply with 21st century values. Simply expunging past connections from sight won’t correct wrongs or help us better learn from our past.”
Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, tweeted that he was “opposed” to the permanent removal of the statue.
The Tory MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, tweeted that the removal was “a huge error of judgment.”
He added: “Are we going to follow the example of the Met and Bristol and let the mob rule the streets?”
Most read in News
The toppling of the statue of Colston in Bristol on Sunday has led to demands for other historic monuments to be removed.
The statue was pulled down amid worldwide protests triggered by the death of George Floyd.
It was pulled out of the Bristol harbour this morning.
A website called “topple the racists” has compiled a list of around 78 statues and other memorials across the UK it argues should be taken down, because they “celebrate slavery and racism”.
This includes 19th-century slave owner Sir Thomas Picton, 18th-century colonialist trader Robert Clive and 17th-century merchant Elihu Yale who had links to the slave trade.
Campaigners have also challenged memorials to Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Met Police in London and former prime minister William Gladstone.
Police officers with full riot gear will be on standby this weekend “kitted up and ready to go” amid fears of potential clashes between far-right extremists and anti-racism activists.
Busloads of fans attached to “firms” at various football clubs are planning to travel hundreds of miles to defend monuments after a number were vandalised during the Black Lives Matter demos.
