Might do a daily thread of statues I'd like to get rid of, not because of their histories, just because I'm an aesthetic snob.

Benjamin Disraeli, Parliament Square. Disraeli is one of four PMs IMV who should have a permanent statue, because he was the first ethnic minority PM, did a reform act, etc. But not this one, I mean, seriously, it's just dull and nondescript: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Benjamin_Disraeli,_Parliament_Square

The Meeting Place, Kings Cross. I'm a sentimentalist, so I like what this statue is *trying* to do - but it's terrible and poorly executed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meeting_Place_(sculpture)

Because it's my thread, my rules: this, nearby is, actually very good, fits in its place, memorialises one of its subject's few positive contributions to our built environment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_John_Betjeman

George Canning. Erected in a fit of early 19th century sentimentality and mawkishness, deeply naff now that the period of elite hysteria around his death has faded. Arguably the least deserving 19th century PM, also the toga is very silly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_George_Canning,_Parliament_Square

Nye Bevan, Cardiff. The sculptor’s attempt to capture Bevan mid-speech has, instead, given the impression he is breaking wind. Shame, cos the face and trouser leg (which many modern statues struggle with), are good. https://www.stayinwales.co.uk/wales_picture.cfm?p=3262

Cecil Rhodes, Oxford. A weird irony is that the thing that protects this statue (preservation and planning laws) would undoubtedly have prevented it being put up, as it doesn't fit the building at all. Fortunately so high up as to be near-invisible: http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/streets/inscriptions/central/rhodes_oriel.html

Many suggesting Animals in War, Hyde Park. Can see why - the unintended bathos of the inscription 'they had no choice', the presence of a goat and cat among the carved animals, but I think there's something pleasingly British about it in a mad way: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_War_Memorial

Haven't done one of these for a while, but I passed it on Friday and remembered it would be remiss not to include A Conversation with Oscar Wilde, or, as I prefer to think of it Zombie Oscar Wilde Rises From His Sarcophagus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Conversation_with_Oscar_Wilde

I was really excited about this, but execution of the Wollstonecraft is an example of a real problem of modern statues - what's wrong with just...a statue of Wollstonecraft? I know it's N16, but we don't have to be arty *all the time*. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/10/mary-wollstonecraft-finally-honoured-with-statue-after-200-years