Entombed: Churchill, The Man Who Saved Britain

Absurd and shameful... PM’s outrage as statues are covered up after protests

- Cyril Dixon

Furious Boris Johnson made a passionate defence of Sir Winston Churchill yesterday after our wartime leader’s iconic Whitehall statue was hidden from public view.

The Prime Minister waded in amid fury that his predecessor’s image was hidden behind wooden hoardings for its own protection.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan took the controversial decision to cover up Sir Winston over fears that he may be targeted by anti-racism activists today.

Earlier this week vandals daubed the bronze sculpture with graffiti, while other famous busts that are linked to historical racism or the slave trade featured on a “hit-list” drawn up by activists.

The threat to them was heightened when Black Lives Matter, which is behind the surge in protests across the world, planned a protest in central London today.

It has been called off but other groups – including far-Right thugs – still plan to take to the streets.

As fears of violence and vandalism grew, Mr Johnson hit out at the “absurd and shameful” bid to tarnish Sir Winston’s legacy of triumph over fascism because of his outdated views.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Sir Winston saved democracy by protecting Europe from the Nazis in the Second World War. Mr Johnson tweeted: “The statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square is a permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country – and the whole of Europe – from a fascist and racist tyranny.

“It is absurd and shameful that this national monument should today be at risk of attack by violent protesters.