Africans should be blamed for slavery, Britain must not pay for it - Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure in the United Kingdom's Conservative Party, has firmly opposed the notion of Britain taking responsibility or paying reparations for its historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. In her view, current British taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of events that occurred long before their birth, arguing that discussions about slavery must acknowledge the participation of various societies in the trade.

She challenged Caribbean nations demanding apologies and compensation to extend their claims to include African rulers, merchants, and kingdoms who were also integral to the trade. Badenoch questioned whether these governments would seek similar apologies from the descendants of these same people. She further doubted their readiness to hold accountable the individuals who captured, sold, and profited from enslaved Africans.

Badenoch emphasized that slavery was a global evil and urged for an honest portrayal of its history, rather than selective highlighting of certain aspects for political expediency. She also dismissed proposals for financial reparations and debt cancellation, citing past international debt relief efforts like Jubilee 2000, which provided limited long-term economic benefits, and noted that many debt-stricken countries soon accumulated even more debt.

Additionally, she criticized the British Labour government's approach to welfare spending, asserting that it should not allocate additional resources to international reparations while facing domestic financial pressures. Badenoch expressed concerns that British taxpayers should not be held accountable for historical events they did not personally experience, stressing that the country's focus should be on improving citizens' living standards and fostering economic opportunities.

She also criticized political elites in Commonwealth countries for using Britain's colonial and slavery history to divert attention from their own economic challenges, urging these governments to concentrate on addressing present-day issues rather than repeatedly seeking compensation from Britain. Furthermore, Badenoch criticized Labour leader Andy Burnham for advocating another formal apology from Britain, echoing Tony Blair's expression of sorrow and regret from nearly two decades ago, and maintaining that another apology was unnecessary.

She described the renewed calls for reparations as a distraction, urging Commonwealth countries to prioritize future cooperation, particularly in trade, economic development, and security, by forging stronger economic partnerships and enhancing military collaboration. Badenoch questioned the value of Commonwealth summits if Britain repeatedly faced demands for financial compensation, warning that such an approach could render these gatherings ineffective.