Liverpool City Council want to give more "honest" account of City's link to slave trade

Liverpool could introduce plaques on buildings related to the slave trade in a new effort to give an honest account of the city's past.

Much of Liverpool's 18th Century wealth came from the slave trade and the City Council have said that is reflected in street names and building designs.

Mayor Joe Anderson is calling for new signs to explain their relevance to traders and abolitionists.

The Council have also said that they want there to be plaques explaining the true history of notable merchants from Liverpool's past in the city's Town Hall.

They have also called on the Highways Department to identify new streets which can be named after Liverpool-based abolitionists and BAME figures in order to celebrate the city’s rich history of fighting for justice for diversity.

The international slavery museum, situated at the Albert Dock, says that at least 25 of Liverpool's lord mayors, holding office for a total of 35 years between 1700 and 1820, were closely involved in the transatlantic slave trade.

In 1795 Liverpool controlled over 80% of the British slave trade and over 40% of the European slave trade.

In 1999 Liverpool City Council made a formal apology for the city's role in the slave trade and it has since held annual events to commemorate Slavery Remembrance Day.