PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
MANDELA STATUE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE (9 January 2006)

That this House welcomes the proposal to erect a 2.7 metre statue of Mr Nelson Mandela in London's Trafalgar Square; disagrees with the Deputy Prime Minister that such a statue would be visually intrusive or clutter the Square or that it would detract from the character of Trafalgar Square and believes that a statue of the man who symbolises one of the most important struggles for justice in the 20th century would rather enhance the character of the Square; stresses that Mandela is a world statesman, not simply a South African figure, and that the North terrace of the Square is a justified location; notes a recent opinion poll showing that Londoners are heavily in favour of the statue; and congratulates the Mayor of London for his vigilant commitment to ensuring that such a statue is erected.

Sponsored by:
Ms Diane Abbott (Labour)