MPs back calls to commemorate Prince Philip with a statue on The Mall

MPs have backed plans to commemorate Prince Philip with a statue on The Mall in central London. 

The proposals have secured cross-party backing, with MPs arguing a prominent statue would be a ‘fitting tribute to mark a lifetime of public service and duty’. 

It is thought that both Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer are in favour of the move. 

One Downing Street source told The Sunday Telegraph that the idea was one that Mr Johnson is likely to support.

MPs have backed plans to commemorate Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, with a statue in central London

One potential location is The Mall which leads to Buckingham Palace. MPs said a statue would be a ‘fitting tribute to mark a lifetime of public service and duty’

Meanwhile, a Labour source said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh dedicated his life to the service of our country and the Queen. 

‘A statue would seem a fitting tribute for his years of service.’

A petition calling for a statue of the Duke of Edinburgh has already been signed by thousands of people after it was launched in the wake of his death at the age of 99 on Friday. 

Save Our Statues launched a change.org campaign calling on the Government to erect a monument to the Duke of Edinburgh in London.

The page has now been signed by more than 6,000 people as many left tributes to the Duke. 

The petition said there should be a prominent statue of the Duke in recognition of his service to the country and his ‘great personal dedication and support to Her Majesty the Queen’.

One Cabinet Minister said: ‘Every sovereign and consort has a statue somewhere. It must be right to have a statue for the Duke.’

Sir Charles Walker, a vice chairman of the influential 1922 committee of Conservative backbench MPs, said: ‘It would be a fitting tribute to mark a lifetime of public service and duty.’