Colonial past must be in mainstream of UK history, says new English Heritage chief

Nick Merriman says inclusion of difficult stories of slavery and empire is not wokery, but simply good history'

Stories about the legacy of slavery and colonialism must be central to the way museums and heritage organisations present their collections, as part of a new chapter of what heritage is about", the incoming head of English Heritage has said.

Nick Merriman said that a focus on the country's often highly problematic colonial role [has] to be part of the mainstream narrative about British history", and should not be confined only to historic properties, statues or artefacts that had a direct link to slavery or imperial wealth.