Fury over Sadiq Khan's woke statue taskforce: London mayor unveils list of names to review capital's landmarks - including social rights activist who backed defacing monument and academic who said white supremacy can be traced back to Britain

Project come under fire from those who insist monuments should not be erased
Mayor of London stressed the purpose of Commission was not to remove statues
Panel includes Toyin Agbetu, who famously confronted the Queen at ceremonySadiq Khan was today accused of 'reducing London's history to politics' after unveiling his diversity taskforce to review landmarks in the capital.
The 15-strong team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices.
The project has come under fire from politicians concerned that figures of our national past could be erased by 'unelected activists'.But the Mayor of London stressed the purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was not to remove statues, only to 'raise public understanding'.
Statues, street names, building names and memorials in the capital will all come under the spotlight.
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Sadiq Khan has unveiled his diversity taskforce that will review London's landmarks in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests
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Toyin Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery
The thorny subject of evaluating existing statues will be probed by the panel - many of whom have already been publicly outspoken on the matter.
Toyin Agbetu, a social rights activist, praised activists who painted red the hands of slaver Robert Geffrye's statue in Hackney, to symbolise the 'blood on his hands'.
He hailed them as committing 'a transgressive, yet progressive act of public service' by 'making visible the history and human cost of those involved in such monstrous evil'. Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery.
With both the Queen and PM Tony Blair present, he yelled: 'You should be ashamed. We should not be here. This is an insult to us.'
The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife, who supported the statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston being replaced with a BLM activist.
Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year.
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It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed (left), who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of. The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife (right)
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Conservative candidate for mayor Shaun Bailey said: 'Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics'
It has been replaced with a likeness of Jen Reid, the BLM protester who climbed up on the empty plinth and clenched her fist in the style of Black Power.
At the time, Ms Emelife she described 'seeing the crane lift this up onto the plinth from our lookout point. The rush of adrenaline as this project is realised guerrilla style.'
City Hall said the panel was selected through an 'open recruitment process' and will serve initially for two years.
It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed, who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of.
A staunch critic of the Prime Minister, on a television show he once called Mr Johnson 'an out-and-out complete c***' who is 'overtly racist' and 'blatantly lies to the public'.
He also said he hates the word 'diversity' because it does not equate with true representation.
Fellow panellist, business academic Lynette Nabbosa, who founded an organisation for role models to engage with black youth, has previously suggested that white supremacy is rooted in British history.
She wrote in October: 'The UK seems to be the common denominator in atrocities across the world.
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Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year

'No matter where you find examples of white supremacy, all roads lead back to my country of birth.

'It was the UK's racism that birthed slavery and colonialism. We say it is in the past but our schools, colleges, universities, streets, museums etc have never stopped honouring the enforcers of our oppression.'

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: 'London is a city built on history — sometimes bad, more often good, and always complicated. But Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics.

Curator Sandy Nairne, pictured showing the Duchess of Cambridge around the National Portrait Gallery, is also a member of the Commission

'A commission of fifteen unelected activists should not get to decide which statues to pull down and which streets to rename — which history my children are allowed to see.

'My preference is always to put up new statues instead of tearing down old ones. That's how we truly celebrate our black role models and pioneering women.'

Mr Khan announced his intention to establish the Commission last July following the police killing of George Floyd in the United States.

The death reverberated across the world, and spurred activists in the UK to topple and deface statues of historical figures.

Announcing the panel, Mr Khan said: 'For far too long, too many Londoners have felt unrepresented by the statues, street names and building names all around them, and it's important that we do what we can to ensure our rich and diverse history is celebrated and properly commemorated in our city.

'I'm delighted to bring together this inspiring group of leaders from across London to form the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Each member brings with them great insight and knowledge that will help to improve the representation of our public landscape.'