The Regional Monitor

After 200 years, the city of Hull is still deeply associated with William Wilberforce – MP for Hull and youngest member of the House of Commons – and his tireless efforts to abolish slavery, which led to the signing of the Slave Trade Act that banned the trade in Britain. On March 25, the city marked the bicentenary of the passing of the Act.
To commemorate the event, the Wilberforce House Museum reopened after two years. Monetary contributions to the information centre came from Hull City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and European Regional Development Fund. Over £1m was spent to improve and update the museum.
Prime minister of Barbados Owen Arther, joined the official opening ceremony for the museum, and gave a lecture at Wilberforce’s baptist church in Hull. Arthur recognised Hull’s status as a place where freed slaves returned. He also celebrated the Council of Europe signing the Convention against human trafficking, and asked for the same passion to end this “modern-day slavery” as in the 19th century. The upgraded museum neighbours the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation (WISE) – a research institute of Hull University three miles from the main campus.
“The museum will raise issues, encourage debate and develop learning about the subject of slavery and abolition,” said Jayne Tyler, the Wilberforce Project lead officer. “If people are discussing and debating the subject of Wilberforce and anti-slavery after today’s bicentenary, we will know that we have achieved part of our job to raise awareness.”
For these institutions, slavery is not considered a concern of the past, but a global issue that has taken modern form. WISE will host the ‘Slavery: Unfinished Business’ conference in May which will commemorate the 200 years of slavery abolition and emphasise the millions of people still affected by this problem. Minister for culture, David Lammy, is included in the group of four keynote speakers for the WISE convention, alongside professors from the international community who will give their papers to encourage awareness.
The government minister praised Hull City Council for the “hard work and professionalism” reflected by the elected members and council staff. In a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), the Audit Commission upgraded the council from one to two stars, and said it is “improving adequately.” The council’s chief executive, Kim Ryley attributed progress to many of the services in the council including the business, voluntary and community sectors. Members of the Hull community are pushing to move the work of Wilberforce and development of the city forward. Hull City Council is promoting an ongoing petition campaign online. The council asks for digital signatures that lobby to “eradicate modern-day slavery” as Wilberforce did in 1807.
WISE professor David Richardson was consulted by the Royal Mail to lengthen the legacy of Wilberforce. The Humber Chamber of Commerce first proposed the idea to remember Wilberforce partnered with the Post. A commemorative stamp in the abolitionist’s honour will join a set of six stamps picturing anti-slave trade campaigners. “Royal Mail decided to mark this very important anniversary with a set of stamps, which will be seen by millions of people and hopefully make us all reflect on how an inglorious period in history was ended,” said a spokesman for Royal Mail. The ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade First Day Cover’ was postmarked on Hull High Street three days before the bicentenary.
Hull North MP Diana Johnson followed a Downing Street online campaign to include a portrait of Wilberforce on the £10 note.
Hull MPs have reinforced that the commemoration day is not only about reflecting the past, but progressing current policy. During the bicentennial week, Johnson said, “This was a major step forward, felt across the world, in the advance of freedom, modernity, equality and human dignity. However, while celebrating the best of our past, we should not live in it.” Hull East MP and deputy prime minister John Prescott also mentioned a national commemoration day for Wilberforce emphasising, “Slavery did not end when we passed the Act of Parliament in 1807.”