Many awkward things seem to be associated with specific numbers. For example, that terrible second film in almost any series (Star Wars being one notable exception) and those awkward third albums by rock bands. But few things are more awkward, especially to Londoners, than that awkward fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. And, as if to emphasise its awkwardness, the powers that be in London seem to sanction the erection of a series of downright ugly and some frankly bizarre installations—as I have learned to call them—the current one being an ice cream cone with a fly on it. Why? At last, I have heard a genuinely sensible suggestion and it came from London Mayoral candidate and leader of the Heritage party, David Kurten. Interviewed recently by Peter Whittle on New Culture Forum, he suggested a simple and elegant solution: erect a statue of William Wilberforce.
Kurten, much to the irritation of many on the left, does not fit the expected mould of the person of colour. For this he mainly receives heaps of opprobrium; but he soldiers on regardless and hardly fails to utter words of good sense. Apart from the fact that Kurten is not ‘one of them’—he is pro-Brexit, was Education Spokesperson for UKIP and holds traditional Christian values with respect to family life—he has no time for statue toppling. It achieves nothing and in fact removes examples of people to whom we can point and say: ‘bad man’ and compare them with the few good men that will be left along with some good women, sadly neglected in statuary. If there was ever a shining example of a good man, surely it is Wilberforce, and he was also the man who led the charge against the slavery that inspires so many statue topplers. Ultimately, along with other notables, he achieved the abolition of slavery. Remarkably, there are very few statues of Wilberforce. There may be more, but I only know of two and both are in my hometown of Hull. One is in the gardens of the Wilberforce museum and the other is already on a plinth that is over 100 feet high outside Hull College. It could well be Mick Jagger up there, nobody can tell. So, the idea to celebrate him in Trafalgar square and usurp the ice cream cones and any other carved monstrosities that are being planned at City Hall in London addresses two problems.
Fancifully, I can also imagine the day when people are trying to topple a Wilberforce statue. Someone, some day will unearth—in the true style of the ‘offence archaeologists’ so well described by Toby Young—that Wilberforce possibly benefited from slavery. He may have put sugar in his tea; worn a cotton shirt or referred to those he was trying to liberate using an expression no longer à la mode. Ironically, he most certainly did benefit from slavery; it cemented his reputation in his own time and for centuries beyond. Believe me, they will come up with something and when they do, they will set about their toppling work. If they do, good luck topping the one on the 100-foot pillar in Hull. On the other hand, if they do, we may discover after all that it was Sir Mick Jagger up there.
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