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2022, Siobhan Baillie MP statement to MailOnline after Blackboy Clock recommendations published
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Baillie made the following statement to MailOnline:
"As I said before, I oppose removal of history and statues. To do so serves no purpose other than to allow some people to decide or be selective with history or decide what is most comfortable and cause no offence.
'I remain disappointed that myself and other local people who believe statues should remain in place were called racist, shouted down and hounded on social media about the Stroud clock.
'A local organisation sadly spiked a lot of anger on both sides of the debate to suit its own agenda.
'My position has always been that where there are questions or if controversy arises, a plaque could be added setting out facts so that the wider public can discuss, confront where necessary and decide for themselves.
'Placing items in a museum will ensure that some people see an item, and we have a wonderful local museum who do excellent work, but I believe the removal from an original setting can lose part of the story. Who knows what a museum will decide to do with a piece of art or sculpture in the future too.
'The clock in Stroud has also been in the town in various locations for approximately 240 years. It has a date of 1774 on its mechanism, it is 18th century in style and despite local people taking the trouble to have it restored in 2004, I understand it remains a rare piece.
'There is a historic interest for the town yet questions remain unanswered. The council’s own investigations states ‘whilst it is important to include the possible origins and inspiration behind the statue within this report, it must be stated that the possibilities are all speculative and it is therefore not possible to define why [the artist] chose to use the image of the boy’.
'The clock issue has bizarrely become a political attack from the left. To my knowledge, previous Stroud MPs of all party colours did not campaign to remove the statue, nor did the MP at the time take issue with the restoration of the clock features.
'It should be left where it is.'" - has type | est de type
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Baillie, Siobhan
- took place on or within | a eu lieu le ou dans l'intervalle de temps
- 22 April 2022