London's financial district looks to remove statues connected to slavery following Black Lives Matter protests

The City of London is looking at tearing down statues in the Square Mile associated with Britain’s slave trade past.

The financial district is asking for views on whether to take down statues and other landmarks with historic links to slavery and racism.

The three month consultation could also lead to building and street names changing.

Andrien Meyers, co-chair of the City’s Tackling Racism Taskforce, said: “We know that historical symbols continue to have an impact today and we want to understand how people feel about this aspect of our cultural history.”

It is not the first time the City has come under pressure from the Black Lives Matter movement.

Back in June a huge monument to William Beckford, twice Lord Mayor of London in the 1760s and the largest slave owner of his time, was targeted by a petition.

His statue stands in the Guildhall, the ornate seat of the City of London Corporation. The government rejected the petition on the grounds it was a matter for the local authority.

But in the same month a statue of Robert Milligan, an 18th century slave trader, was removed from outside a museum in the Docklands area of the capital.

Meanwhile The Lloyd’s of London insurance market and Bank of England have both previously apologised for past links to slavery.