Should Britain pay up? Commonwealth leaders argue the UK owes them money to right the wrongs of the slave trade.
Row deepens over slavery reparations
Should Britain pay up? Commonwealth leaders argue the UK owes them money to right the wrongs of the slave trade.
Last week, Britain's leader Keir StarmerThe leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024. headed out to the island of SamoaAn island country in Polynesia. for a meeting with CommonwealthOfficially called the Commonwealth of Nations, it was set up in 1926. There are 54 members in all. It grew out of the British Empire and many members, although not all, were former British colonies. leaders. But it was far from a relaxing beach holiday.
Instead, Commonwealth leaders demanded that Britain offer reparationsProviding payment to make amends for a wrongdoing. for its historical role in the slave tradeThe Atlantic slave trade was the transporting of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to be slaves in the Americas. It took place from the 16th to the 19th Centuries. .
Reparations are payments given to those who have been victims - in order to compensateTo give someone something to make up for their loss of something else. them for the harm caused.
Some argue Britain used the hard work of millions of slavesPeople who are forced to work without being paid. to become the richest, most powerful country in the world.
Now, they claim, it owes the great-great-great-grandchildren of slaves payments to make up for the wealth it stole.
Others claim Britain got rich through its own technological know-how, not slavery. And then it spent £20m - around £17bn in today's money - ending slavery. One British politician has even argued that Commonwealth countries should be gratefulThankful for something you have or something someone has done for you. to the UK.
What is the truth? Over three centuries, Britain shipped more than three million Africans to the Americas. They were packed into boats and faced terrible suffering.
When they arrived in the coloniesArea or countries under the control of another nation. , they were often separated from their families before they were set to backbreaking labour. The cotton and sugar they harvested were sent back to Britain.
When Britain abolishedTo get rid of a rule or practice. slavery in 1833, it did pay reparations - to the slaveowners. The slaves themselves received nothing.
Some say the amount Britain now owes is as much as £18tn. But this huge number means it is unlikely Britain will pay.
Should Britain pay up?
Yes! Millions of Africans suffered and died to make Britain rich. It left their own countries poor. This is a terrible wrong that has never been made right. Now is the time to act.
No! There have been many terrible wrongs throughout history. We cannot possibly right all of them. We can only move on from the past and try to make a more equal future.
Keywords
Keir Starmer - The leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024.
Samoa - An island country in Polynesia.
Commonwealth - Officially called the Commonwealth of Nations, it was set up in 1926. There are 54 members in all. It grew out of the British Empire and many members, although not all, were former British colonies.
Reparations - Providing payment to make amends for a wrongdoing.
Slave trade - The Atlantic slave trade was the transporting of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to be slaves in the Americas. It took place from the 16th to the 19th Centuries.
Compensate - To give someone something to make up for their loss of something else.
Slaves - People who are forced to work without being paid.
Grateful - Thankful for something you have or something someone has done for you.
Colonies - Area or countries under the control of another nation.
Abolished - To get rid of a rule or practice.
Row deepens over slavery reparations
Glossary
Keir Starmer - The leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024.
Samoa - An island country in Polynesia.
Commonwealth - Officially called the Commonwealth of Nations, it was set up in 1926. There are 54 members in all. It grew out of the British Empire and many members, although not all, were former British colonies.
Reparations - Providing payment to make amends for a wrongdoing.
Slave trade - The Atlantic slave trade was the transporting of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to be slaves in the Americas. It took place from the 16th to the 19th Centuries.
Compensate - To give someone something to make up for their loss of something else.
Slaves - People who are forced to work without being paid.
Grateful - Thankful for something you have or something someone has done for you.
Colonies - Area or countries under the control of another nation.
Abolished - To get rid of a rule or practice.