Construction workers, dressed in protective clothing and equipped with harnesses, set to work removing each of the protective metal boards covering both monuments today as President Emmanuel Macron made his arrival to London. A spokesman said: 'The covering around the Winston Churchill statue will be removed for the visit of President Macron to London. 'But the protective coverings around the statues of Mandela and Gandhi, which the mayor is also responsible for, will stay in place 'under review'. Mr Khan was forced to defend his decision to cover Churchill's statue in Parliament Square after criticism from the Home Secretary. However, Mr Khan said the decision to protect the statues in Parliament Square was a 'wise' precaution, fearing they could become a 'flashpoint for violence' involving extreme far-right protesters.

Source: Daily Mail June 19, 2020 00:06 UTC