UKIP Chairman Ben Walker congratulates the Bristol council on its swift decision to remove the BLM statue that was erected on the Edward Coltson plinth.

Bristol resident Mr Walker said the sculpture was "divisive" and "an attempt by the artist to get some fame by exploiting divisions in the City."

The city's mayor Marvis Rees has previously said the choice of a replacement statue should be made democratically.

"Bristol does not need this latest attempt to cause a divide between the city's residents: the people living here have not made a living from the slave trade, do not support the slave trade but are being made to feel like they have some inherited shame from Bristol's involvement in the Transatlantic slave trade," said Mr Walker.

"I worry that the great efforts which have been made in recent decades to improve community relations are now being ripped apart.

When people think of Bristol now they probably think of the statue of Edward Colston being torn down by protestors. There is no mention, for example, of Pero's Bridge: a footbridge named to honor the many unknown African men, women and children who were enslaved.

Bristol City Council are desperately trying to breathe economic life back into this city; to encourage new investment and to create a positive brand which will benefit everyone living here - no matter what community they are from. Having a sculpture of someone who broke the law, arm raised in a 'black power' salute will not help that goal.

That cannot happen if there are groups of people who constantly want to stoke the flames of tension. We must not erase our history: As George Santayana said, 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'

"Unlike the BLM group, I would never have supported this latest statue being pulled down by an angry mob because that would have caused this tension to continue, but Bristol City Council did the right thing by not giving in to a Marxist action group”.

UKIP Leader Freddy Vachha said, "Speaking as a first-generation immigrant myself, I'm relieved that common-sense has prevailed and this bizarre statue has been carted off. No society is more fair, tolerant, welcoming and unbiased than ours in Britain. But ruthless Marxists who lurk behind many violent street movements cannot be allowed to erase our culture and seize control! While I understand genuine anger felt by many protestors, they need to wake up and see how they are being manipulated towards an outcome many of them would not want".

Image: Caitlin Hobbs, Edward Colston - empty pedestal, CC BY 3.0