Oxford City Council's leader has written to an Oxford College inviting it to bring down a statue of a 19th century imperialist through official means.

Susan Brown has invited Oriel College to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes from its High Street building by applying for planning permission.

26 of Ms Brown's city council colleagues signed a statement of support calling for the statue to be pulled down, but she did not.

Since then, she has released a statement on social media giving her view on the statue.

She said: "I'm clear in my support for the Black Lives Matter movement and I have a great deal of sympathy with the Rhodes Must Fall campaign. The question of statues and their historical context is not a simple matter, but sometimes acts of symbolism are important."

READ what Oriel College has said about the statue here

She added the statue would be better place in a museum, and suggested the Ashmolean or the Museum of Oxford might be appropriate 'to ensure this noteworthy piece of the story of our city isn't lost to history'.

As Oriel College's building on High Street is Grade-II* listed, planning permission is needed to remove the statue through proper means.

Ms Brown added: "Typicall such actions are only allowed in the most exceptional of circumstances. But these are exceptional circumstances, and as a city council we are keen to work with Oriel to help them find the right balance between the laws that protect our historic buildings and the moral obligation to reflect on the malign symbolism of this statue."

Oxford East's Labour MP Anneliese Dodds agreed with the sesntiment of the council leader's statement.

She said: "I have always been determined to listen to local Black communities about the statue of Cecil Rhodes, as on other issues. Its presence is a visible symbol of racism and prejudice for many. It is clear that there is now an overwhelming consensus for its removal. 

"I support Oxford City Council's leader Susan Brown’s call for Oriel College to seek a means of removing the statue.”

Earlier today the Prime Minister also weighed in on the debate around Rhodes' statue.

READ about his comments on the debate here