On the latest edition of the BBC’s Any Questions, from Sunderland, the first question this week was about the new hot topic of slavery reparations. A group of Commonwealth countries is demanding a “conversation” on the subject and the Prime Minister was forced into agreeing at a summit, although for the moment the government line is that the UK will not pay reparations.
Having been a guest on Any Questions – a show I like – a few weeks ago, I must admit to being relieved that this did not come up then. I would have got myself into trouble by saying that the slavery reparations movement is the most ludicrous, ahistorical policy grift of our age, amid a great deal of competition.
What may have started out as a reasonable discussion about the need to reflect on the complexity of British history and get beyond jingoism has metastasised.