Current location:health >>
MPs' fury at 'virtue
health148People have gathered around
IntroductionMPs today dismissed a 'virtue-signalling' claim that the UK owes Caribbean nations more than £200bil ...
MPs today dismissed a 'virtue-signalling' claim that the UK owes Caribbean nations more than £200billion in slavery reparations.
The estimate has been made by the Dean of Trinity College Cambridge Dr Michael Banner.
Based on the compensation claims made by slave owners when the trade was first abolished in 1833, and adding compound interest, the theologian said the total owed should be £205billion.
But the call was derided by MPs as not belonging in the 'real world', with a former minister pointing out that the UK had defended Commonwealth states for decades and provided other support.
The UK owes Caribbean nations £205billion in slavery reparations, a leading Cambridge academic has said (File image of a cartoon on the petition to end the slave trade)
Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr (pictured) said Dr Banner's reasoning 'may have its place in the ivory towers of Russell Group universities' but did not 'speak to the real-world challenges we are facing'
Despite the UK government rejecting the case for reparations, Dr Banner has urged the Scottish Government to 'show leadership' on the issue and start paying back its share of £20.5billion.
It comes after Tory MPs rebuffered calls from Caribbean nations for Britain to pay reparations over treatment of 'indentured workers'.
Speaking to the Herald on Sunday, Dr Banner claimed that Scotland should seize the initiative due to presenting itself as more liberal than the remainder of the UK.
'It's well-known Scots played an outsized part in growing and sustaining the British empire, and Glasgow was in particular closely tied up with Caribbean trade,' he said.
'Scotland now has an opportunity to show leadership once again on the side of right, by recognising the compelling case for making reparations to the nations and people of the Caribbean.'
He added: 'The British Government has consistently failed to face up to this responsibility. Scotland can show the way.'
The theologian based the amount he believes the UK should pay back on more than £40million of compensation slave owners said they were due when the trade was first abolished, even though they received half of that at £20million.
'We know the people living in the Caribbean now – the people asking for reparations – are the inheritors of those who were wronged,' he said.
However, Former Tory Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois, told MailOnline: 'With D-Day 80 approaching, it's quite right to acknowledge that we do owe a debt of honour to our Commonwealth allies, who fought bravely alongside us, against Nazi tyranny.
'But, in return, we have provided everything from defence and international security to hurricane relief, for many decades. This person from Cambridge might perhaps want to remember that?'
Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr said Dr Banner's reasoning 'may have its place in the ivory towers of Russell Group universities' but did not 'speak to the real-world challenges we are facing'.
He added: 'People in Scotland have other pressing concerns. We need to deal with the real priorities of Scots and not be concerned with yet more academic virtue-signalling.'
British Empire expert James Heartfield told MailOnline: 'The West Indies' long struggle for independence was an honourable fight, but this seems like a step backwards, coming to Britain asking for more cash. Finding injury in the past isn't helping people to take responsibility for building their future.
'It upsets people that Britain paid slave owners 'reparations' for the loss of their slaves, but that was a law passed to abolish slavery by buying the slaves their freedom. I think you would have had to have voted for it if you were an MP in the 1834 Parliament.
'Prime Minister Palmerston did say in 1847 that 'this country does owe a great debt of reparation to Africa', but he did it to justify the cost of the West Africa Squadron of the British Navy that suppressed the slave trade between 1808 and 1867 at the cost of one million pounds a year.'
The organisation that represents 20 Caribbean states - Caricom - has issued a 10-point plan for 'reparatory justice'.
Last year a leading international judge claimed Britain owes almost £19trillion in reparations for its role in the international slave trade, and even that might be an 'underestimation'.
Patrick Robinson, who sits in International Criminal Court, claimed that countries behind the centuries of atrocities were 'obliged to pay' and accused politicians like Rishi Sunak of burying their heads in the sand.
He spoke after an academic report in June alleged that 31 former slaveholding states - which also include the United States and Spain - owed $100trillion - $131trillion between them.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Corner news portal”。http://pakistan.downmusic.org/html-3a899144.html
Related articles
Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
healthMANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines blamed Chinese fishermen on Monday for a massive loss of ...
【health】
Read moreMining giant BHP Billiton makes $39 billion bid for Anglo American to expand copper operations
healthLONDON (AP) — Shares in U.K.-based mining giant Anglo American surged Thursday after it received a 3 ...
【health】
Read moreRural livestreamer spreads basketball enthusiasm
healthYINCHUAN, China, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A short distance away from the ongoing "CunBA" match in Xiji Co ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
- Uma Thurman, 53, looks sensational in elegant purple gown and shiny gold jewelry as she joins A
- Allergies can make you miserable. Here's how to track pollen levels near you
- Rural livestreamer spreads basketball enthusiasm
- I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
- Kylie Minogue plays peekaboo in sparkling black dress as she's honored at the TIME 100 Gala in NYC
Latest articles
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
Mining giant BHP Billiton makes $39 billion bid for Anglo American to expand copper operations
Becky G dazzles in ab
Jensen Ackles to play Justin Hartley's brother in CBS series Tracker
Hilarious moment mother asks her Cocker Spaniel to help choose her lottery numbers
Chinese film festival screens 8 Russian movies
LINKS
- Commentary: Honduras made the right decision on ties with Beijing
- Nadal drawn against Cobolli at Barcelona Open. Spaniard trying to return from injury
- China's rural vitalization breathes new life into agriculture, villages
- Commentary: China's COVID policy optimization to propel global economic growth
- Man City's Rodri on the bench against Luton after saying he needs 'a rest'
- Abortion: Progressive candidates share their stories after Roe's fall
- Senior Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session
- Xi'an summit to open new chapter of China
- PLA Day warmly celebrated in Pakistan
- Commentary: Why Washington's rage over China's Micron ban is calling white black