The University of Liverpool decided to rename one of its halls of residence after a vocal minority of students called on it to remove former Prime Minister William Gladstone's name due to "his views on slavery".

This comes despite a large student vote to keep the residence as Gladstone Hall. 

In an open letter addressed to Vice Chancellor Professor Dame Janet Beer, a group of students at the university called for Gladstone Hall, on the Greenbank Student Village site, to be renamed due to William Gladstone's family connections to slaveholding.

Gladstone is best known for his support for free trade and for home rule for Ireland.

We the undersigned demand the University return the residence to the name of Gladstone Hall, in honour of one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers.