Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 16 September 2020
I congratulate Stuart McMillan on bringing this incredibly interesting and informative debate to the chamber and on securing support for his motion from across the Parliament. I have enjoyed all the speeches and they have given me much to think on.
The motion acknowledges the presence across Scotland of various locations that have links to slavery and that should be considered in the planning for a new national museum, the proposal for which was agreed to by the Parliament. Although I cannot give commitments to Mr McMillan or Mr Greene on a permanent site in Inverclyde, I congratulate Mr McMillan on his considerable efforts for Inverclyde and Greenock, of which I know that he is a true champion. Notwithstanding that, I know that Stewart Stevenson has just made a bid for the north-east of Scotland as well, and I reassure Neil Bibby that we are looking at all the options, including some of the more virtual options in the work with the Hunterian; there are many ways in which we can do this.
We have a rich, but complex history and our challenge is in accepting the unacceptable truths of our past, as we have discussed. The trading of humans as slaves, as chattel and as property, is absolutely unthinkable to us now, notwithstanding the challenges that we have with modern slavery. It is deeply incompatible with notions of dignity, respect, the autonomy of the individual or indeed their human rights. In Scotland, we have tended to think of ourselves as distant from the transatlantic slave trade. We convinced ourselves with some romantic notion that we were remote from the abuses of empire and exploitation, but we just need to take a walk down Virginia street for that notion to be smashed from our heads.
As the debate has highlighted, a significant part of the wealth that flowed into 18th century Scotland came directly from the sugar, tobacco and cotton industries that in turn built and shaped cities, towns and communities across Scotland. As we acknowledge, there are many legacies that we are confronted with—street names, historical statues, monuments and museum artefacts—that, although once celebrated, have become symbols of injustice and pain for many, many people. Our places and museums can bring us face to face with parts of our history that are shameful by today’s standards. As Jeremy Balfour said, that is an important way to change attitudes.
During black history month in October last year, I went on a historical walk through Glasgow city centre, organised by the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights—CRER—and guided by Dr Stephen Mullen, whom many of you will know. I recommend doing that walk if you get the opportunity. Many people do not understand the reasons why Jamaica Street, Virginia Street and others are named as such, but I did that day, from that experience. As set out in our programme for government earlier this month, we recognise that we must find a better way to present a more accurate portrayal of Scotland’s colonial and slavery history and re-examine how we interpret Scotland’s past through our public heritage.
The people who came to Scotland through the slave trade and the British empire, and their descendants, have made an enormous contribution to our country, yet many of their achievements are not celebrated and their stories are not told in the many museums and heritage centres across Scotland. That must change.
As Neil Bibby suggested, there is much more to do and I hope that this debate, the debate that we had in June and the debate that we will have next week will look at some of those wider actions that we need to take, especially those regarding the recommendations from the expert reference group on Covid and ethnicity.
To that end, the Scottish Government is proud to be working with Museums Galleries Scotland to commission an independent expert review group, which will bring together public and expert voices to make recommendations to ensure that people in Scotland are aware of the role that our country has played in past injustices as well as the positive legacies, and how both elements continue in our society.
Both anti-racism work and improving ethnic minority representation in society are crucial for delivering our vision of a Scotland where everyone is treated equally. I hope that there is a very different look to this chamber after we return from the election next year.
An important first step will be to ensure the involvement of diverse representation from across the race equality and museum sectors in the museum advisory group. That is a key element in what we need to do. The group’s expert opinions will be considered alongside findings from a national consultation to include the many and varied views of the people of Scotland, including whether there should be a national museum. I wish to reassure CRER, which wrote to me last night—and I will respond in full—that the work that it has been doing over the past few years will definitely be included in that approach.
The debate provides us with an opportunity to recognise efforts to promote equality and what has already begun within the heritage sector. The V&A has already announced that it is reviewing the stuff that it has in its museums and how that is presented.