Churchill Portraits Removed from Parliament Following Labour Victory

[Social Media]

 

Portraits of Winston Churchill have been taken down from Parliament following Labour’s landslide victory in the general election, The Telegraph has revealed. Drawings, prints, and photographs of the Second World War leader were removed after the arrival of new MPs in Westminster last year. 

 

Churchill’s legacy has come under scrutiny in recent years, with some historians and activists arguing that he was a racist imperialist and bore responsibility for the Bengal famine. Five images of the former prime minister were removed from various parts of the parliamentary estate, particularly in areas housing MPs' offices. One notable photograph, which was taken down from Portcullis House, depicted Churchill standing at the Cenotaph in 1945.

 

Other prominent historical figures have also had their portraits removed, including the Duke of Wellington. These artworks are part of the Parliamentary Art Collection, which consists of around 10,000 pieces available for MPs to display in their offices. The collection underwent an audit in 2020 following the Black Lives Matter protests, with the Speaker’s advisory committee on works of art compiling a dossier identifying historical figures considered controversial due to links to slavery or racism. Several artworks listed in this dossier were removed after the election, which saw Labour gain 211 seats and 335 new MPs enter Parliament. Some think tanks described this intake as the most racially diverse in history.

 

Following the July 4 election, five portraits of William Gladstone, the four-time Liberal prime minister, were also taken down. Gladstone’s father had been a slave owner and received compensation upon the abolition of slavery. Simultaneously, five images of Oliver Cromwell were removed, as he was listed in the audit as someone who “supported slavery, had financial or family interests in the transatlantic slave trade and slavery.” Similarly, a portrait of Lord Liverpool, a Tory prime minister, was taken down after being listed in the same category.

 

Three portraits of the Duke of Wellington were removed a week after the election, despite him not being explicitly mentioned in the dossier. His contributions to colonial expansion in India were cited as reasons for his removal. Additionally, a portrait of William Wilberforce, a renowned abolitionist, was taken down. Other figures whose depictions were removed include Lord Salisbury, Victorian prime minister; poet John Milton; Charles I; and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

 

Most of these artworks were taken from office buildings such as Portcullis House, Derby Gate, and the Norman Shaw building, all of which are outside the main Palace of Westminster and serve as workspaces for MPs. It is understood that these pieces have now been placed in storage. However, within the Palace of Westminster itself, which operates under a different system, multiple statues and paintings of Churchill remain in place.

 

The display and placement of artwork in the House of Commons is managed by the Heritage Collections Team and the Speaker’s advisory committee on works of art. While some pieces are integrated into the architecture of the Palace and hold more permanent positions, others are subject to rotation, though not necessarily influenced by individual MPs.

 

This development follows reports by The Telegraph that Sir Keir Starmer removed a portrait of William Shakespeare from No 10, along with images of Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Margaret Thatcher. Additionally, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reportedly taken down portraits of historical leaders such as David Lloyd George and Benjamin Disraeli from No 11, replacing them with works commemorating lockdown.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-02-26

 

 

[The Old Bull]

What the Labour MP's don't understand is people had had enough of the Torries and wanted them out so they were only elected for this reason rather than for their policies. They are failing badly at gaining popular support. Old Churchill was not a nice guy but he was what was needed to beat Hitler so he deserves respect for this. You can't rewrite history.

[mfd101]

The post-everything world. A country with no past has no future.

[henryford1958]

I suppose Starmer has put up pictures of Stalin or Mao in its place.

[JonnyF]

No surprise.

 

Chruchill was a patriot who defended Britain from an invasion. The polar opposite of 2 Tier Keir and his Woke band of Britain haters.  

[Scottie12]

FFS get a life, it's history,it happened.

[samui99]

Perhaps those in Parliament would of preferred that we were all speaking German now

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, henryford1958 said:

I suppose Starmer has put up pictures of Stalin or Mao in its place.

Stalin helped as much as Churchill did. 

[Harrisfan]

New photos being added

 

 

[JonnyF]

On the plus side, it makes room for a portait of Dianne.

 

 

Just cut out the shoes and the job's a good un.

 

[Yagoda]

32 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

No surprise.

 

Chruchill was a patriot who defended Britain from an invasion. The polar opposite of 2 Tier Keir and his Woke band of Britain haters.  

I wont comment  'cuz its not my country, I just boggle my brain over the fact that he was one of the greatest men in history.

 

When I think of Churchill, I think of the Cavalry charge at Omdurman. C96 and sword, plunging his horse through spear chucking ululating fanatic Islamofacist Mahdiist barbarians.

 

I loved the C96 (mauser Broomhandle). in all its variations. Did you know it has only one screw? You put it together like a jigsaw puzzle. You loaded it with stripper clips. I am amazed that Churchill could reload that thing while on horseback. Its only 10 shots. Maybe he had two of them.

 

Fuzzy-Wuzzy!

[worgeordie]

He is soon forgotten , without him we would be speaking German today , While Trump

has returned the bust of Churchill to the Oval office.....go figure ,one good thing he has done..

 

 

regards worgeordie 

[Harrisfan]

25 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

He is soon forgotten , without him we would be speaking German today , While Trump

has returned the bust of Churchill to the Oval office.....go figure ,one good thing he has done..

 

 

regards worgeordie 

Secured border

Ending Ukraine soon

 

Be 3 lefty

 

Keir 0

 

Regards

 

Common Sense

 

Note: Capital letters.

 

[Wrwest]

Saddened by this political move. For all the human faults of those in the past, some leaders stood out in the history of the nation, including my 6th Cousin, 2x removed, Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill.

[Purdey]

They are just paintings, and they will live on. Changes in paintings is not something to get upset about. Churchill knew about the British treatment of Africans and Indians and felt proud. The so-called fuzzy wuzzies were trying to kill invaders.

[CanadaSam]

Ungrateful buggers.  Without Churchill, they would all be Nazi's now.  Nobody else could have handled that situation better.