INVERCLYDE'S Conservative councillors united in condemnation of the vandalism of the statue of Britain's great wartime leader Winston Churchill in London's Parliament Square.

Former Provost David Wilson and colleague Graeme Brooks hit out at the people who daubed slogans on the memorial amid protests which followed the death in police custody of a black man in America.

Councillor Wilson said: "The killing of George Floyd in the USA was an utterly horrific act and we condemn the actions of police officers involved.

“It is understandable that emotions are running high and people want to show their support, but this must be done in a peaceful manner at all times.

“It has been shocking to see these protests in some areas disrupted by acts of mindless vandalism and attacks to police officers doing their job.

“The defacing of Winston's statue in Parliament Square is an insult and does nothing to tackle racism.

"Churchill worked with Labour leader Clement Attlee to defeat Hitler’s Nazis."

Councillor Brooks added: “There is a debate to be had surrounding our history, but this won’t be solved through vandalism.

“We believe that the best way to achieve this would be through education in Inverclyde schools, both council-run and independent, and our outstanding third sector youth organisations like the Boys’ Brigade and Scouts."