Churchill Is Still on Front Line of Culture War

The latest attack on the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in London is a yet further indication — were one needed — that more than 60 years after his death, he is still on the front line of the culture war. He himself would probably not have minded that, having been on the front line of no fewer than five previous wars, but we ought to be outraged on his behalf.

The latest assault on the statue was allegedly undertaken by a 38-year-old Dutchman, who spray-painted “Free Palestine,” “Zionist War Criminal,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Never Again — Now” on the bronze statue and its stone plinth. The last of these blitheringly idiotic and unhistorical slogans is a reference to the Holocaust — against which the world has always said “Never Again” — but which the spray-painter seems to want repeated now. The inverted red triangle symbol of Hamas was also left on the statue in Palestinian activists’ trademark red paint, in case we were in any doubt as to who is more than willing and ready to carry out a second Holocaust.

About the Author

Andrew Roberts

Andrew Roberts is the author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny and a member of the House of Lords.

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The latest attack on the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in London is a yet further indication — were one needed — that more than 60 years after his death, he is still on the front line of the culture war. He himself would probably not have minded that, having been on the front line of no fewer than five previous wars, but we ought to be outraged on his behalf.

The latest assault on the statue was allegedly undertaken by a 38-year-old Dutchman, who spray-painted “Free Palestine,” “Zionist War Criminal,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Never Again — Now” on the bronze statue and its stone plinth. The last of these blitheringly idiotic and unhistorical slogans is a reference to the Holocaust — against which the world has always said “Never Again” — but which the spray-painter seems to want repeated now. The inverted red triangle symbol of Hamas was also left on the statue in Palestinian activists’ trademark red paint, in case we were in any doubt as to who is more than willing and ready to carry out a second Holocaust.