Historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo has strongly criticised Caribbean nations’ demands for £200 billion in slavery reparations from the UK, calling it an “avaricious cash grab” during a rant on GB News.
His comments come as Caribbean governments plan to raise the issue at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
The demands have sparked debate, with some Caribbean leaders pushing for compensation, while the UK government has ruled out payments.
Heydel-Mankoo’s remarks highlight the contentious nature of the reparations issue, which has gained prominence in recent years amidst discussions about Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact on former colonies.
Rafe Heydel-Mankoo hit out at calls for reparations
GB NEWS
Caribbean figures are set to demand £200 billion in reparations from King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Samoa on 21 October.
The issue has gained traction, with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley leading the charge. She recently met with King Charles in London for private discussions on the matter.
Rafe Heydel-Mankoo accused Caribbean nations of an ‘avaricious tax grab’
GB NEWS
The demands stem from Britain’s historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, which began in 1562. By the 1730s, Britain had become the world’s largest slave-trading state. The practice was eventually abolished in 1807, with enslaved labour in British colonies ending in 1833.
The UK government has firmly rejected the idea of paying reparations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stated on Monday that “reparations are not on the agenda” for the Commonwealth summit. A Downing Street spokesman emphasised, “The Government’s position on this has not changed. We do not pay reparations.”
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This stance aligns with the previous Conservative government’s position. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had declined to apologise or offer reparations for the slave trade in April 2023, stating that “trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward”.
Rafe Heydel-Mankoo joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
GB NEWS
Labour’s policy appears to be consistent with this approach, despite past comments from Foreign Secretary David Lammy supporting reparations.
Historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo vehemently opposes the reparations demands. “Let’s be clear, Britain does not owe a single penny to anybody in the Caribbean nations”, he stated. Heydel-Mankoo argues that Britain has already paid its debt, citing the £20 million paid in 1833 to free slaves, equivalent to £20 billion today.
He dismisses the demands as “nothing more than an avaricious cash grab by left-wing activists in the Caribbean”. Heydel-Mankoo also criticises “bad faith political actors” for exploiting what he calls a “nihilistic wave of self-flagellation” in Britain.