What happens now that Rhodes didn’t fall?

Oriel College, Oxford’s decision to retain the statue of Cecil Rhodes has generated the usual voluminous fury. It has also shown it to be just that: noise. The university’s willingness to face down activists could mark a turning point in proving that when campaigners don’t get their way, the world continues to turn.

This might sound obvious but it marks a welcome change to the often depressing cycle of inevitability of protest-social media storm-surrender. All too often, it seems power really does lie with the various campaign groups, charities, and commentators pushing for change. The fact that Rhodes hasn’t fallen, whatever you might think of the man himself, shows that it doesn’t. This is why they are activists rather than policymakers.

Rhodes is staying over Oriel’s doorway because the government effectively turned around and said ‘no’, and that put an end to the matter. For all the claims to be on the right side of history, if the government is willing to put up with a week or so of bad headlines before the press loses interest and changes focus, the repercussions are minimal.