Woke councils allowed to alter historic road names | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Woke Left-wing councils might be allowed to interchange historic road names after Labour axed a requirement to seek the advice of residents.

Legislation requiring authorities to win the assist of two thirds of people that reside on a road earlier than altering the identify has been quietly axed, the Sunday Express can reveal.

It means councils can take away references to figures from Britain’s previous that at the moment are deemed to be offensive.

Think tank Policy Exchange accused Labour of stoking “culture wars”. Senior Research Fellow Lara Brown stated the Government “claim they wish to end the culture wars, and yet they are pursuing the politics of division, prioritising a minority of campaigners over the views of the public.”

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which got here into legislation final yr, permits councils to make an order altering the identify of a road, or any a part of a road, if the change has “sufficient local support”.

The earlier authorities introduced plans for additional laws making it clear that this meant a two-thirds majority of native residents.

But native authorities minister Matthew Pennycook revealed in a written parliamentary reply that Labour “does not consider there is a need for further guidance”.

It means councils can merely determine for themselves whether or not a proposal has native assist, successfully permitting them to go forward with any scheme of their selecting.

In 2022, Lambeth Council thought-about altering the names Nelson Row and Cromwell Road, however scrapped the proposal. Haringey Council spent £100,000 to rename Black Boy Lane as La Rose Lane.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has arrange a Commission for Diversity within the Public Realm to assessment road names within the capital.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson stated: “Street names can solely be modified if native authorities really feel there’s enough demand and engaged with residents.

“No final decisions have been made regarding further legislation in this area, and we are clear that any change must have the support of local communities.”