Each generation tries to own – or disown – its own history.

And for Britons this has long been a rather difficult task.

For decades people were taught to be proud of empire.

Then, as society shifted, suddenly the crimes of the past were highlighted.

And we have seen that spin out even further now with a clutch of statues removed and calls for monuments to even the most celebrated of Brits to be razed.

This is dangerous territory.

Let us take Winston Churchill as an example.

Churchill’s statue stands proudly outside parliament. But is often the target of protesters.

Why?

There is no doubting the role he played during the Second World War to beat the Nazis and secure peace for Europe.

But some people also claim he was a “racist”.

These claims come from his imperialist views and opposition to native rule in some Commonwealth nations.

By today’s standards those ideas would be seen as wrong. But he was talking many decades ago in very different times.

We must bear these things in mind before we cancel one of Britain’s finest statesmen.

However, it is right that we do not airbrush the truth from history to make a better, kinder narrative.

Edward Colston was a philanthropist – only problem being his money was largely made from the slave trade.

For years people wanted to remove his statue from the centre of Bristol. Finally, in a fit of rage, they did. And lobbed it in the harbour.

I agree that it is not right for a figure like this to be displayed in a modern city.

It should, though, remain on display in a museum so generations to come can understand who he was and why he prompted so much anger.

Civilisations have long ripped down statues and glossed over the past. But we must learn from it, not simply destroy it.