The City of London Corporation is facing questions over its commissioning of research into its historical links to the transatlantic slave trade, with concerns raised about the process and the scope of the work.
The Sub-Committee received an update on the independent research commissioned into the City Corporation's historic connections with the transatlantic traffic and enslaved African people, conducted by Professor William Pettigrew. The report, published in mid-September, examines how the corporation, its institutions, and individuals were associated with, or benefited from, this traffic, and how these links have shaped the city's development. The research was commissioned to provide an evidence base for understanding and discussing this history.
Concerns were raised during discussions about commissioning research from a single individual, with suggestions that multiple quotes should be sought in the future for complex work. Chief Commoner Philip Woodhouse stated, A lot of people didn't get the late paper about at the P&R meeting that we were just going ahead with with our expert.
He added, There was a question as to why we, you know, we are the corporation. We have got to see value for money when you only go to one person, you only get one price. And there are an awful lot of people in this space who are experts on the abolition. And I think we should be aware that it's very dangerous to only have one person, quote, for work of such a complicated nature as this.
He concluded that in future, we should never just have one quote for anything in the corporation.
Emma Green, Co-Director of People, Culture and Inclusion (Acting), explained that the decision to continue with Professor Pettigrew for the new research into the City Corporation's historical links to the abolition movement was to ensure that there was a continuity over that approach in the research that he has taken.
This approach was intended to build upon the conclusions of the initial report, which found that the City Corporation as an entity did not directly engage with or benefit from the trafficking of enslaved people, but rather that individuals within the corporation and other institutional links were involved. The procurement process was confirmed to be compliant with the corporation's code.
The new research into the City Corporation's historical links to the abolition movement will use the same methodology
as the initial report. This methodology ensures continuity and builds on the initial report's conclusions. The focus remains on the corporation's institutional links, rather than a general history of abolition. Officers clarified that the research will be an independent piece of academic research. So the findings will be the findings and regardless of the sort of modern day judgment call on the good versus the bad that will that will all be in there in the kind of same sort of factual academic rigor that has been applied to the first report.
The scope is focused on the corporation's institutional links, rather than a general history of abolition.
The research methodology will ensure continuity with the initial report and will include both positive and negative aspects of the city's involvement in the abolition campaign,
acknowledging that there were many good people in the city of London who were avid campaigners for the abolition of the slave trade
but also that there will have been people who will have opposed the abolition of the slave trade.
The research will be conducted with factual academic rigor
and will ensure that the contextualisation of slavery
is handled with sensitivity. The findings will be the findings, regardless of modern-day judgment calls.
Following the report's completion, internal engagement with stakeholders, including members and livery companies, took place through talks and walking tours. The timing of this research was influenced by the publication of a National Register of Slave Traders and a BBC Two documentary series.
Further independent research, also by Professor William Pettigrew, focusing on the City Corporation's historical links to the abolition movement, was discussed. This new research will be supported by member training and communication initiatives.
The report on Member Training and Development Progress Update
mentions that training was the first of its kind as part of a new member learning and development strategy
and that Future plans include developing more role-relevant examples and exploring alternative learning formats.
Specifically for the abolition movement research, it is noted that member training and communication support to help with the ongoing story that we're uncovering and to think very carefully about the next steps
will be provided. The intended learning outcomes are to help with the ongoing story that we're uncovering and to think very carefully about the next steps.
Mark Gettleson, from the Communications & External Affairs Department, highlighted the positive engagement from the Black in the Square Mile network, which has grown to nearly 900 members. He noted that the network was very interested in engaging in whatever it is decided is next in terms of opportunities to showcase, mark this research and mark Black History moments going forward.
The City Corporation aims to send to those stakeholders and come back later in the year or the following year with a set of options that we can discuss for the ongoing approach to how we respond to what we've learned.
The meeting also discussed the need to decide how we want this to be a legacy in some way across the corporation,
suggesting that the corporation is considering long-term strategic policy implications beyond immediate engagement programmes.
Deputy Caroline Haines, Chair of the Sub-Committee, acknowledged the concerns raised about the commissioning process and the methodology. Officers reiterated that the research methodology would ensure continuity with the initial report and that the focus remained on the corporation's institutional links, rather than a general history of abolition. The procurement process was confirmed to be compliant with the corporation's code.
Further details on the Sub-Committee's discussions can be found in the Public reports pack Public reports pack for the meeting on 30th September 2026.