Woke councils allowed to change historic street names | Politics | News

Woke Left-wing councils will be allowed to replace historic street names after Labour axed a requirement to consult residents.

Legislation requiring authorities to win the support of two thirds of people who live on a street before changing the name has been quietly axed, the Sunday Express can reveal.

It means councils can remove references to figures from Britain’s past that are now deemed to be offensive.

Think tank Policy Exchange accused Labour of stoking “culture wars”. Senior Research Fellow Lara Brown said 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 came into law last year, allows councils to make an order altering the name of a street, or any part of a street, if the change has “sufficient local support”.

The previous government announced plans for further legislation making it clear that this meant a two-thirds majority of local residents.

But local government minister Matthew Pennycook revealed in a written parliamentary answer that Labour “does not consider there is a need for further guidance”.

It means councils can simply decide for themselves whether a proposal has local support, effectively allowing them to go ahead with any scheme of their choosing.

In 2022, Lambeth Council considered changing the names Nelson Row and Cromwell Road, but scrapped the proposal. Haringey Council spent £100,000 to rename Black Boy Lane as La Rose Lane.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has set up a Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to review street names in the capital.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “Street names can only be changed if local authorities feel there is sufficient 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.”