Over 180 historians have today written to the Home Office to protest at the misleading and false representation of slavery and empire in the UK Citizenship test.

The signatories include many of our members, as well as our chair, Professor Naomi Tadmor, who has signed on behalf of the Social History Society.

We are proud to support the letter and repeat its call for an official review of the history component of the ‘Life in the UK’ test. As the letter explains, the official handbook published by the Home Office excludes the experience of people of colour in the UK and makes demonstrably false claims about the history of slavery and empire.

A full version of the letter is available on the website of the Historical Association’s journal ‘History’ – alongside an option to add your support.

The letter has already gained media attention, including a favourable write-up in the Guardian, and we hope that it will lead to a more accurate approach to the UK’s past.