Demands for Britain to pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade are a form of blackmail, according to Professor Doug Stokes. He argues that the cost of ending slavery for Britain far outweighed any profit gained from the trade.
Stokes contends that the figure of £19.7 trillion, proposed by a report for the University of the West Indies, is an unrealistic and "mendacious" demand. He notes the hypocrisy of Princess Antoinette Fernandez, a spokesperson for slavery reparations for the Green Party, being a descendant of Lagos kings who profited from slavery.
He also criticizes Andy Burnham, who has expressed openness to a formal apology, for pandering to these claims. Stokes points out that countries like Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, which are among those seeking reparations, still have significant populations experiencing modern slavery, including forced labor and forced marriages. He stated that the number of people currently enslaved in these nations exceeds those transported during the transatlantic slave trade.
Stokes challenges the notion that Britain's prosperity was built on slavery. While acknowledging that some British businessmen profited, he asserts that the nation as a whole did not benefit substantially. Analysis, he suggests, indicates only a marginal increase in income per head for a limited period, largely confined to industrial regions.
He further posits that Britain's economic success stemmed from centuries of innovation and industry across its population. Drawing parallels, he mentions that if slavery were the basis of Western wealth, Portugal, which transported more enslaved Africans than Britain, should be the wealthiest European nation.
Stokes also provides context on the conditions in Africa prior to the slave trade, describing tribal warfare and endemic slavery. He highlights that Britain's stance differed by making slavery illegal domestically and leading the international effort to end the trade, outlawing it in 1807. The Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron was formed to intercept slave ships, a mission that cost Britain approximately 1.8% of its national income for 60 years, with an estimated 1,600 sailors dying in service.
To address the issue, Stokes suggests that the Treasury should publish the full cost of suppressing the slave trade and emancipation to inform future negotiations. He also advocates for a more comprehensive education on both the slave trade and its abolition in British schools and museums. Furthermore, he urges the government to challenge nations that currently practice domestic slavery, arguing that any reparations should be directed towards those countries, including China and Myanmar.
Stokes concludes that Britain must refuse to accept liability for a trade it actively suppressed at significant cost, and politicians should reject attempts to extract money through such demands. He is Professor of International Relations at Modul University, Vienna, and author of "The Atonement Complex."