Descendant of Henry Dundas slams Edinburgh Council plaque as ‘biased’, ‘defamatory’ and ‘historically inaccurate’

A descendant of Henry Dundas has written to the council asking for temporary hoardings to be removed.A descendant of Henry Dundas has written to the council asking for temporary hoardings to be removed.
A descendant of Henry Dundas has written to the council asking for temporary hoardings to be removed.
Bobby Melville is the tenth Viscount Melville and has demanded the immediate removal of the temporary plaques in St Andrew Square.

The tenth Viscount Melville, a descendant of Henry Dundas, has demanded the removal of “defamatory” temporary plaques in St Andrew Square.

Temporary hoardings were put up following mass Black Lives Matter protests across the world, the UK, and in Edinburgh and follow years of pressure on Edinburgh City Council to install a more historically accurate description of Dundas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The wording describes the former Lord Advocate as being “influential” in prolonging the Atlantic slave trade.

However, descendant of Dundas, Bobby Melville, has delivered a package of documents to each of Edinburgh’s councillors demanding the plaque is removed and accusing the council of defaming his ancestor, while expressing support for the “important” Black Lives Matter movement.

Included in the pack are opinions from Sir Tom Devine, professor of Scottish history who argues blaming just Dundas for slavery is “not only anachronistic but in conflict with the evidence” and historians Michael Fry and Dr Brian Young.

A letter, also sent to the council, accuses it of “fake news”, of misrepresenting the facts, and argues that councillors who voted for the temporary plaque have “done a disservice” to the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It reads: “Certain members of the City of Edinburgh Council have allowed biased, historically inaccurate and defamatory information to be placed on the temporary plaques that commemorate the legacy of Henry Dundas.

“We have attached a review of evidence that sets out Henry Dundas's record on abolition, supported by citations to records of debates and authoritative commentary from historians, Sir Tom Devine, Professor Brian Young and Michael Fry. We ask that you review this information, as it will demonstrate the degree to which the current message on the plaques misrepresents the facts.

"The current message on the plaques is the equivalent of fake news.”

It adds: “We also believe members of the council who voted ‘aye’...have done a disservice to the movement, and the residents of this city as a whole, by failing to arrive at a statement about Henry Dundas that is fair, balanced and truthful. Black Lives Matter seeks to have the truth about black history known.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It serves no one to allow distortions of the truth to be adopted by our elected officials and disseminated on public property.”

The letter also calls for a new panel to be formed with “no activists or non-historians” playing a part. It adds: “Lobbyists and activists should not be decision-makers on a matter of such importance.”

Edinburgh City Council said it will review the letter and respond to it in due course.

When the council unveiled the temporary wording for the plaque, council leader Adam McVey said it added to the “honest acknowledgement” of the Capital’s role in the slave trade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The move also followed years of disagreement and paralysis from the council in dealing with Dundas’ history.

He said: “It’s right that a more accurate description was agreed for the plaque at the statue of Henry Dundas and we were keen to act quickly.

“It’s important that a more appropriate and factual description is in place so that we can all get a better understanding of Edinburgh’s history, and particularly an honest acknowledgement of our City’s role in the slave trade.

"By more accurately reflecting our past we can more accurately accept our present and lingering racism which still haunts our society which must be stamped out. The voices of ethnic minority residents are key to that progress.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dundas served as an MP for Edinburgh and Midlothian and was the first Lord of the Admirality as well as Scottish Lord Advocate, with the statue erected using private donations from seamen and officers from the navy in 1827.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice