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Slavery reparations need to be about future, not just cash, says Lammy

04 Nov 2024 2 minute read
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, appearing on the BBC1 current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Image: Jeff Overs/BBC

David Lammy has said any conversations about reparations need to be about the future rather than the “transfer of cash”.

The Foreign Secretary was speaking in Nigeria to sign a “strategic partnership” covering economic ties, national security and climate change, as part of his first visit to Africa in the role which also takes in South Africa.

Letter

In the wake of Commonwealth leaders signing a letter calling for talks on reparations for nations affected by slavery, Mr Lammy said concentrating on money was a “simplistic press debate”.“It’s not about the transfer of cash, particularly at a time of a cost-of-living crisis around much of the globe, and certainly in the UK,” he told the BBC.

“That is not the debate I think that people are wanting to have. They’re wanting to think about the future.”

Describing slavery as “horrific and horrendous in many, many ways”, he said scars had been left and the UK Government had apologised for the country’s role in the trade.

The Foreign Office said Mr Lammy was pursuing “a fresh approach” that “works productively from Morocco to Madagascar”.

“Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent,” he said.

“I want to hear what our African partners need and foster relationships so that the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.”

Partnership

The partnership with Nigeria will cover economic ties, national security and climate change, and Mr Lammy is expected to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to discuss further trade and climate collaboration.In South Africa, he is set to meet foreign minister Ronald Lamola and agree on the development of a new UK-South Africa Growth Plan.

Mr Lammy added: “Growth is the core mission of this Government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.

“This will mean more jobs, more prosperity and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike.”


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Evan Aled Bayton
Evan Aled Bayton
28 days ago

Reparations are nonsense. The whole thing is historical. The actual process of slavery involved many nations both as vendors of slaves and as enslaved both Europeans and Africans as well as Turks and Arabs among others. Slavery in the Eastern Mediterranean did not end finally until the early 20thC and likely in some African countries continues. The UK exited slavery about two centuries ago. We do not owe any reparations. More worrying is the existence of modern slavery especially of women and children even in this country especially associated with people trafficking and illegal immigration and resources should be directed… Read more »

hdavies15
hdavies15
28 days ago

No point writing about the realities of history here, Evan. Even if the hysterical self flagellants were right any compensation would get sucked up by the dodgy despots that behave as though they own most of Africa and parts of Asia. All criminals made comfortable by the regular injections of loot from avaricious globalist corporations and their State sponsors.

jimmy
jimmy
28 days ago

Oh dear, the rise of BRICS+ really has the Establishment rattled.

Jeff
Jeff
28 days ago

When you have a nation that paid off the owners and not the slaves (condemned the slaves still even after “freedom”), and we only just finished paying that in 2015 or so, so I have paid taxes to those institutions and families that still exist today, the same families that gained from this horrendous buiness, this demands we talk about it. Where that conversation goes, who knows but reparations look like part of the package.

Neil Anderson
Neil Anderson
28 days ago

Alas, the miserablist UK Government strikes again. There is obviously NEVER a good reason to fund appropriately, let alone generously.

The sunlit uplands fade further out of view for so many – beneficiaries, pensions, nurses, small farmers, small businesses… Only trickle-up can be seen.

There is no future for the many in this benighted union, only for the few. For Labour, read Tory.

With our own currency and without the neo-liberal approach, all would prosper.

Courage mes, braves! Unite for independence! Justice for all! Freedom for all!

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