I’m a firm believer that any actions from the past, which are not acceptable today, should be left in the past. Certainly, we should learn from them and not repeat them but to expect individuals or groups of individuals to make reparation for what happened hundreds of years ago, to my mind, is unrealistic. Also, regarding the slave trade, what many fail to recognise is the fact that certain black Africans were a part of the slave trade and helped in the capture and trading of these people.

I do not think it acceptable that statues should be torn down. It is a criminal activity and anybody taking part in such activities should be punished by law. Why should some individual from Bristol have to apologise for the city’s part in the slave trade? Remember, crowds used to watch public hangings like we watch a football match. Different times, different values and morals.