Reform's temper tantrum about slavery reparations shows it doesn't understand Britain's place in the modern world | Kojo Koram

"On 29 November 1781, Capt Luke Collingwood faced a decision. He was in command of a ship called the Zong, which departed Accra with 442 Africans to be sold into slavery. However, the crew of the Zong kept getting lost on the way to Jamaica. Now their overcrowded cargo was ridden with disease and dehydration."

"Soon, more than 130 people were thrown overboard, starting with the less commercially valuable women and children. At the resulting court case two years later, the main area of dispute was whether this action invalidated the financial payout."

"Reform's proposed punishment for any country that dares to submit a claim for reparations provides some insight into why Britain still cannot find its place in this rapidly changing and fractured world."

In November 1781, Capt Luke Collingwood of the Zong faced a dire situation with 442 Africans aboard, leading to mass drownings to avoid financial loss. The court case that followed focused on the legality of these actions, ignoring the moral implications. Recently, Nigel Farage's Reform UK proposed denying UK visas to countries seeking reparations for slavery, such as Nigeria and Jamaica. This stance reflects a disconnect from the Commonwealth and highlights Britain's struggle to address its colonial past and adapt to a changing world.

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