Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Council to review £100k launch of Margaret Thatcher statue

The plan will be considered by a scrutiny committee

Clea Skopeliti
Friday 18 December 2020 09:34 EST
Comments
The statue will come to 20ft once erected on its plinth
The statue will come to 20ft once erected on its plinth (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Conservative-led council’s plan to fund a £100,000 unveiling event for a £300,000 statue of Margaret Thatcher in the centre of her home town, Grantham, will be re-evaluated.

The monument to the controversial Tory prime minster was set to be erected in Grantham after plans to put it up in London were turned down. 

In 2013, the leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly criticised the idea as inappropriate, saying that erecting a statue of Ms Thatcher in Trafalgar Square, the site of the poll tax riots, “would be crass triumphalism”.

The sculpture was instead offered to South Kesteven District Council.

Now, an independent councillor has demanded scrutiny of the plan to underwrite the launch event.

Ashley Baxter has requested a review by the scrutiny committee, which could overturn the decision by the Conservative-led council, according to a report in the Lincolnite.

He told the local news outlet: "The decision has been taken entirely by local members of the Conservative party without even a proper opportunity for discussion, let alone a vote.

"There is no clear outline business plan explaining how third-party funding will be acquired, let alone why the council has somehow taken on responsibility for the fundraising."

South Kesteven District Council has said it "fully expected" the spending on the event to be reimbursed in donations, while council leader Kelham Cooke added that the ceremony "provides a fantastic opportunity for the Grantham community to celebrate its heritage and to promote the district".

The council has said it will put the imposing monument to the divisive leader on a 10ft (3m) plinth, to discourage vandalism, raising the entire structure to a height of 20ft (6m) overall.

Fears of politically-motivated vandalism and protest appeared to be well-founded, with more than 2,300 people pledging to show up to an “egg-throwing contest” on day the statue is unveiled.

The monument cost £300,000, and was acquired largely through public fundraising, private donations and supporters of Grantham Museum.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in