‘Diane Abbott Park’ Labour MP might replace former Tory PM

A PARK IN NORTHWEST LONDON named after four-time Prime Minister William Gladstone in the nineteenth century may be renamed after Labour MP Diane Abbott.

The park, which is located in the London Borough of Brent near Cricklewood, was named in 1898, one year after the Prime Minister’s death. The local council proposed changing the park’s name after polling groups of area schoolchildren on whom they would like to see the park named after.

According to reports, pupils were educated about the assassination of George Floyd by police officers in the United States, labelling the incident “systematic racism.”

Mr Floyd’s death sparked widespread condemnation of the murder and sparked the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Now, children as young as five years old have proposed that Gladstone Park be named after Diane Abbott, the former Shadow Home Secretary.

Several other suggestions have been made, including renaming the green space “BAME Park” or “Multi-Faith Park.”

Some of those considering names suggested the term “Diversity Fields.”

William Gladstone once referred to the slave trade as the “vilest crime” in human history, and Brent Council has described him as a “historical figure whose views on the slave trade are inappropriate.”

According to council documents, the pupils viewed a video message from Dr Inge Dornan of Brunel University, in which she stated: “The Black community in Brent continues to face inequalities.”

“The council is speaking with residents about what each of us can do to combat injustice, prejudice, and racism.

“As part of this, Brent residents have asked the council to consider renaming Gladstone Park.

“This is because the Gladstone family were involved historically in the transatlantic slave trade.”

Additionally, older children offered suggestions and opinions on how the park should be renamed.

Additionally, “Rainbow Park” and “Peace Park of Equals” were proposed.

Although the former Prime Minister was never directly involved in the slave trade, his family did have ties to the practice.

William Gladstone’s father, merchant John Gladstone, held nearly 2,500 slaves and was paid by the British government in 1833 when the British Empire abolished slavery.

However, with the abolition of slavery, Mr Gladstone lobbied for compensation for slave owners such as his father during the 1830s prohibition of the transatlantic slave trade – and they received roughly £90,000, or approximately £9.5 million in modern money.

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