Commonwealth leaders urged to focus on modern slavery not reparations

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 11:46 · Archive

A report urges Commonwealth leaders to tackle modern slavery rather than pursue reparations for the historical slave trade.

A report by Professor Doug Stokes for the Institute of Economic Affairs has urged Commonwealth leaders to prioritise ending modern slavery, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide, rather than pursue reparations for historical wrongs. The report, shared with GB News, argues that the politics of reparations rests on questionable economic assumptions that could significantly alter liability estimates.

Professor Stokes challenged the £18.8 trillion estimate of Britain's potential reparations liability, produced by the Brattle Group in 2023, arguing it relies on 'highly sensitive economic assumptions'. He stated that slavery, whilst 'a profound injustice', was accompanied by 'enormous economic and human costs Britain bore in abolishing the trade'.

The report comes as Andy Burnham attends a Commonwealth leaders' summit in the Caribbean this week. Burnham has offered a 'structured dialogue' with those affected by slavery and remains open to calls for a formal British apology. However, he ruled out reparations, writing that 'British people today cannot be held liable for historical wrongs...under different laws and in which they played no personal part'. The UK has never formally apologised for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

How it is being reported

• Reparations and the UK’s role in the slave trade explainedThe subject of slavery is expected to dominate the Commonwealth summit on Tuesday after Andy Burnham offered a ‘structured dialogue’ with those affected by it in the CaribbeanThe Independent · 2 Nov, 11:28
• Commonwealth leaders urged to focus on tackling modern slavery rather than demanding TRILLIONS in reparationsA new report has urged Commonwealth leaders to tackle modern slavery rather than demand trillions in reparations. The Atonement Complex, shared exclusively with GB News, argues that greater attention should be paid to the estimated 50 million people living in modern slavery worldwide. It comes as Andy Burnham is set to attend a Commonwealth leaders’ summit in the Caribbean this week, after the Prime Minister signalled he was open to calls for a formal British apology for its role in the slave trade. However, a new report by Professor Doug Stokes for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)…GB News · 2 Nov, 06:01

In this story: Andy Burnham · Professor Doug Stokes · Institute of Economic Affairs · Commonwealth · Caribbean · Britain

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