Councils to rename streets linked to empire without community input
- The Labour government has permitted councils to rename streets linked to Britain's colonial past without mandatory consultation.
- This change follows a series of recent controversies surrounding street renaming efforts by local councils.
- Critics argue that this decision undermines public input, prioritizing activist agendas over community consensus.
In the UK, Labour's recent decision has enabled local councils to rename streets linked to the British Empire or slavery without needing to consult residents. Previously, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act allowed changes only if there was sufficient local support, a point that the Conservative Government aimed to strengthen by requiring a two-thirds majority from residents. Since the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, councils have attempted to distance themselves from historical figures tied to the slave trade, leading to proposals for mandatory consultations that Labour has now rescinded. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from think tanks and members of the community, who argue it prioritizes activists over the interests of the public. Consequently, councils can now exercise their discretion without having to secure majority support, raising questions about public engagement in discussions surrounding historical street names.