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If you want our reparations cash for slavery you have to take Prince Harry
Andy Burnham has raised the possibility of slavery reparations, prompting this opinion article to argue that Britain should attach conditions to any payments. The writer rejects the case for reparations and uses satire to suggest that countries seeking compensation should also accept various British inconveniences and public figures.
The article says Burnham has £40 million to allocate and argues it would be better spent tackling modern slavery. It contrasts the UK’s national debt, put at £3 trillion or 102% of GDP, with figures cited for Jamaica (£11 billion), Ghana (£47 billion) and Barbados (£5.7 billion), while noting that leaders in those countries have made much larger claims about what Britain owes them.
In short
- The article mocks calls for slavery reparations.
- It cites Britain’s £3 trillion national debt.
- The writer says £40 million should tackle modern slavery.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of reparations argue that slavery and colonial rule created lasting harm and that Britain bears responsibility for addressing it, even if the precise sums are contested. They may see payments or investment as a matter of justice and partnership, and argue that the UK’s public debt does not erase obligations arising from past actions.
The case against
Opponents argue that present-day taxpayers should not be held financially liable for historical wrongs, particularly when responsibility and the amount owed are difficult to assign across generations and states. They may favour directing limited public funds towards urgent needs such as tackling modern slavery at home, while pursuing cooperation with affected countries without accepting open-ended compensation claims.