Reform UK has announced plans to deny new visas to nationals from countries seeking slavery reparations from Britain if the party forms the next government. This policy would apply to all visa types, including visitor and work visas. The proposal targets several African and Caribbean nations, including Nigeria, Jamaica, Ghana, and Barbados.
Key Takeaways
Reform UK plans to ban visas for nationals from countries seeking slavery reparations if they form the next government. This policy targets several African and Caribbean nations and comes after a UN resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, which the UK abstained from voting on.
The announcement comes shortly after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity" and emphasizing that reparation claims are a step toward remedying historical wrongs. The UK abstained from voting on this resolution. Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf stated that countries demanding reparations ignore Britain's sacrifices in abolishing slavery.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has criticized the UN's involvement, stating that it lacks legitimacy over Britain. The party also plans to cap foreign aid payments to £1 billion, a 90% cut from current levels. Both Labour and Conservative parties have rejected calls for reparations, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasizing a focus on the future rather than historical issues.
The Caribbean Community (Caricom), representing 21 countries, has been advocating for reparatory justice since 2013. Their plan includes a formal apology and investments to address issues like illiteracy and public health. Reform UK views the establishment of national reparations committees or task forces as formal demands that would trigger their visa ban policy.
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, claimed the UK was being "ridiculed on the world stage" and said the "bank is closed" to anyone who wanted to "use history as a weapon to drain our Treasury". Caricom has long argued that nations seeking reparative justice want a mutually beneficial partnership. The Guardian also highlighted that more than 100 countries were colonized by European nations, with Britain's empire peaking at about a quarter of the world by the 1920s.
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