When I was involved in student politics in the 1980s, the Tory student grouping (later to be dissolved due to a degree of, er, over-exuberance) the Federation of Conservative Students would wear 'Hang Nelson Mandela' badges in order to wind up all the earnest lefties, and, of course, as a diligent Trotskyite (although I must say, one of the best sort of Trotskyites going; ie, a lazy one, in that other than being dragged along to the odd meeting, I didn't actually do anything) I was duly wound up. However, even now, having taken something of a more Revisionist stance, I still think that hanging Mandela would have been a bit strong, despite blowing up whatever it was he blew up.
Now, though, they have unveiled a statue of him in Parliament Square, London. And one can only say, why? What the bloody hell has he got to do with us? Why not stick up a statue of any other great freedom fighter from some random country that has absolutely nothing to do with the British (we'll skip over any legacies of the Empire here, for clarity's sake). Why not Simon Bolivar, say, the great liberator of South America. Or, while one is eyeing up that continent, how about a nice statue of General Pinochet, who saved Chile from the socialist tyranny of Salvador Allende (sure, there was the odd unpleasantness. But eggs and omelettes, and all that). Plus he helped us during the Falklands War. I can't remember Mandela supplying us with a great deal of secret military intelligence to help defeat the Argies. Of course, Livingstone was there at the unveiling, amply demonstrating the nauseating fawning obsequiousness that he normally reserves for any terrorists who can be enticed to London. The only surprise was that it wasn't a statue of Gerry Adams being unveiled. Give it time.