Bristol Lib Dems Call on Tory WECA Mayor Candidate to Condemn Colston Plaque Comments Made by a Bristol Councillor

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Bristol City Council, Cllr Jos Clark (Brislington West), has called on the Conservatives' candidate for West of England Mayor, Steve Smith, to condemn comments made by a Bristol Conservative Councillor.

The controversial comments made by Cllr Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) regarding the wording for a new plaque on the empty Colston plinth have drawn widespread criticism.

Cllr Eddy labelled the removal of a reference to Colston being celebrated as a city benefactor as an "utterly historical revision that is worthy of the Nazis".

Cllr Clark said "This reaction is utterly disproportional and Cllr Eddy should be ashamed of having made this comparison.

"The rest of the committee managed to come together and agree upon a wording that was a pragmatic and fair representation of this dark part of Bristol's history".

The Liberal Democrat Group Leader has called on Smith, the Conservatives' recently announced candidate for the upcoming West of England Mayor election and former Bristol Councillor, to condemn the comments.

"The story of the Colston statue has an impact that goes beyond Bristol. With Smith standing to be Mayor of our region next May, he must condemn these despicable comments by the Conservative Councillor" Cllr Clark explained.

Smith and Cllr Eddy both sat as Conservative Councillors on Bristol City Council from May 2018 until May 2024, when Smith lost his seat in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze to the Liberal Democrats.

The comments were made in a meeting of the Council's Develop Control B Committee on Wednesday 20th November. The final wording was approved by 7 votes to 1; Conservative Cllr Eddy was the only vote against.