Cecil Rhodes statue to be kept by Oxford University college

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionOriel College said the "overwhelming message" it had received was for the statue to stay

A college at Oxford University says it has decided not to remove a statue of the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes.

Campaigners want the statue torn down, arguing that Rhodes, a 19th Century businessman and politician in southern Africa, represented white supremacy.

Oriel College began a consultation last month and said the "overwhelming" response was that Rhodes should stay.

It said the statue was a reminder of the complexity of history and of the legacies of colonialism.

The decision by the college comes after students voted by 245 to 212 earlier this month for it to be removed.

The Rhodes Must Fall campaign began in South Africa, where a Rhodes statue was removed, and was adopted in Oxford by campaigners who argued his views were incompatible with an "inclusive culture" at the university.

'Shame and embarrassment'

In a statement Oriel College said it had received an "enormous amount of input" from students, academics and other individuals and groups during its consultation.

The college said after "careful consideration" it had decided the statue should remain but it would add "a clear historical context to explain why it is there".

The statement continued: "The college believes the recent debate has underlined that the continuing presence of these historical artefacts is an important reminder of the complexity of history and of the legacies of colonialism still felt today.

"By adding context, we can help draw attention to this history, do justice to the complexity of the debate, and be true to our educational mission."

Why is Cecil Rhodes such a controversial figure?

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionThe Rhodes Must Fall campaign saw the removal of a statue in Cape Town

The Daily Telegraph reported that the decision to keep the statue had been made after donors threatened to withdraw gifts and bequests worth more than £100m if it was taken down.

The paper said it had seen a leaked copy of a report that disclosed that wealthy alumni angered by the "shame and embarrassment" brought on the 690-year-old college by its own actions had written it out of their wills.

In its statement, which did not address these claims, Oriel College added that the campaign to remove the statue "highlighted other challenges in relation to the experience and representation of black and minority ethnic students and staff at Oxford".

The college said it would be taking "substantive steps" to address these challenges.

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