Should Britain pay reparations for slavery?: Arley Gill and Calvin Robinson clash 

These days if Peter Thatchell thinks its a good idea, it isn’t. Calvin Robinson on the other hand always speaks sense, as did Anne Widdicomb too with the Nazi rebuttal.

Peter should have asked Arley about gay rights in Grenada or was it just easier to sit there and bash Britain!

Who sold us the slaves, it wouldn't have been black slavers by any chance.

They’re grifters. It wouldn’t end a reparations. If Tatchell is right in that all our institutions today were built on slavery then whatever you do it will never be enough. I’m not responsible for paying someone who was never a victim.

Common sense from Calvin and Ann ...no agendas and it shows.

Should North Africans pay reparations for slavery? North African slavers had predominantly white slaves. From bases on the Barbary coast, North Africa, the Barbary pirates raided ships traveling through the Mediterranean and along the northern and western coasts of Africa, plundering their cargo and enslaving the people they captured. From at least 1500, the pirates also conducted raids on seaside towns of Italy, Spain, France, England, the Netherlands and as far away as Iceland, capturing men, women and children. The children where called 'white pearls' and they were sold for sex along with the women. On some occasions, settlements such as Baltimore in Ireland were abandoned following a raid, only being resettled many years later. Between 1609 and 1616, England alone lost 466 merchant ships to Barbary pirates. Moreover, sixteenth- and 17th-century customs statistics suggest that Istanbul's additional slave imports from the Black Sea may have totalled around 2.5 million from 1450 to 1700. xx

The UK fought against slavery on the high seas for decades paying in blood.

As usual, Anne summed it up in about 10 seconds.

Should Germany pay reperation for decimating two generations of UK families?

If we pay preparations they must compensate for every criminal activity then.

We paid our debt by the funding of the West Africa Squadron for sixty years SO NO🖕

Why don't they demand "compensation" from the African states that stole and solde them in the first place, and why is not the same demanded from arabs states that not only enslaved them but castrated them too?

Britain didn’t pay off for its work and military abolition of slavery until 2015. Where’s the admiration or the very least credit for its work to free people from enslavement

I will happily pay reparations for my ancestors actions, just after I receive all the royalties cheques from everyone benefitting from their achievements in engineering, medicine, military, etc etc. Has to work both ways.

I demand Norway and Denmark throw us a few bob for the Viking invasions....

Can Europeans then have full reparations for the slavery they endured by the Barbary Pirates?? Nothing much in the history books about THAT is there .

There is a pervasive attitude in Jamica that Whitey needs to compensate them for perceived miscarriages of justice. To the extent Jamaican internet scammers who fleece the elderly in the USA and Europe out of their life savings are almost lionized

Calvin Robinson, always on the button with his views...well said that man!

Just look how many of the countries who have gained independence- much of the Caribbean is in total chaos now, rife with political corruption and has welcomed monetary bail-outs from the Chinese. Agree with the two sensible voices of Calvin and Ann…. And please remember to include modern day slavery in your analysis if you think it is only the British who should pay reparations!

Reparations, no, Repatriations, Yes.

"Don't pretend your political system is better than ours" he says. Haha okay matey. We'll keep our Shakespeare and our Wordsworth and our Newton and Darwin and Paine and Turing and Elgar and Faraday and Chaucer and Babbage and Orwell and Brunel.... I could go on ALL FUCKING DAY.... And maybe you can just piss off and build Wakanda and show us how great you are.

You can always rely on Ann for common sense. Aswel as Calvin 👍

Compensation? Of course. Single ticket back to Africa should be sufficient. If black slave traders had not sold you, they would have killed you or kept you as slaves in Africa. I bet a lot of Americans wish they could compensate them is this way. Nothing but trouble.

I doubt we have ever been remotely compensated for the damage Germany did to us in WWII.

Absolutely brilliant Calvin Robinson

The two pro-reparations people haven't said how Britain should pay reparations or what amount. They're just airing their grievances for the wrongdoings of people hundreds of years ago, and expect the tax payer to pay for it. The whole idea of reparations is utterly ridiculous unless those who suffered directly are still alive.

Calvin Robinson is a great teacher and a gentleman and always worth listening to.

What about all the aid British people have sent to other people all over the world during and since the empire was dissolved? Ongoing financial aid, food aid, educational aid, water aid, medical aid? Does that not count? Britain has been making reparations for decades. I think instead of paying more we should be reducing our contributions to ebcourage real independence, but that's not what they want. Well, if the WEF gets it's way, we'll all be it's dependents. Perhaps then we'll ALL be happy 🤣🇬🇧

Calvin Robinson is a marvel. He is too sharp for some of the guests that have been invited onto the show. He has shamed the racist mouthpiece from the Caribbean and corrected him on the meaningless rant that he went into. Well done. 👏

My grand parents spent 3 years in the workhouse and bounced along the breadline most of their lives. I want reperations.

I am proud to have contributed towards the global abolition of slavery in taxes every week for my entire working life.

So does England deserve reperations from the Vikings? The Spanish? The Romans?

So Britain can look forward to a huge pay-out from Rome (Italy) and the Viking Nations ( Scandinavia).

I'll reword the question so it makes sense: Should the country that outlawed slavery (thanks to its people) in the Western World pay yet more reparations for slavery? And are Holland & Portugal going to pay even more as well?

Anne and Calvin 👍👍😁😁calvin you are just amazing ! If you ran for prime minister I would be first in line to vote. I cant speak for all of england but i feel it's safe to say that alot of us are getting sick and tired of hearing this nonsense. We were not alive when that happened so let's just live and let live and accept our history good and bad because it cannot be re written.

Don’t give them a penny. It was hundreds of years ago. They have had plenty of time to build a better future for themselves but just want free money. Calvin was on fire. The big widdy was electric. Great article Mark. Tell them to go take a running…. 🇬🇧❤️

Who rounded up the slaves from Africa? Tribes who preyed upon other tribes. Also why are there no African descendants in the middle east? Because the men were castrated by their owners.

The Slave trade from Africa was going on, on the East and North coasts through Arab traders, long before the Europeans arrived in West Africa. And non of these trades would have been possible without the indigenous African slave takers who transported their slaves to the coasts to be sold.

We paid it already and then some. Fun fact, if you paid tax in the UK before April 2014 your money went to paying back the debts we accumulated during our inglorious crusade to stamp out the African slave trade. Our sailors gave their lives, we risked everything to put an end to it and spread to the world the idea that slavery was a truly evil act and refused to back down until it was ended no matter the cost. The entire world was built on slavery for all of human existence until we, the British, ended it.

Can't wait to receive my cheque as a white English man who has suffered ancestral slavery from many different nations...

Of course not. Paying a penalty for something we had no control over sets a very dangerous precedent.

Great points made by Anne Widdecombe about the Nazis.

YEP! As the only country on EARTH at the time that opposed and defeated slavery and the slave trade, of course BRITAIN DESERVES TO RECIEVE THANKS AND PAYMENT.

Don't take any notice of my 10,000 pound gold chain round my neck, just give me money. I will make sure my people get it......... Like hell, we all know who will profit.

The ambassador guy should try living without British innovations and British invented technology, without British developed medicine, infrastructure, systems of law and government and the rest of it. He'd not even be able to join the discussion if he relied on the innovations that his nation came up with and may well already have died of some easily treatable disease.

Monumental nonsense.

Tatchell just compared Britain to the Nazis. Britain was THE driving force behind the abolition of slavery and defeated the Nazis. The wealth of Britain came mainly from industrialization and a world wide trading system.

It's amazing how deluded these people are always having the begging bowl out!!

Look at the hatred in the eyes of Arley Gill. There is something dark and disturbing going on behind them

The UK did it's bit at a huge cost of bringing about the end of slavery, the country didn't pay that dept off until 7-10 years ago.

As Britain more or less ended slavery, I believe we are more than justified in getting reparations from the countries who practiced it for the expense of ending it.

Already paid for. The African slaves were purchased from Africans - we have the receipts. Let the descendents of slaves seek compensation from the people who actually enslaved them, not the downstream buyers. An example from present day, who owes compensation to exploited workers? The people who deliberately exploit them Or The customers who buy the products? The former have more culpability than the latter, surely?

Absolute nonsense.

Wasn’t the industrial revolution due to science and the break throughs around mechanical update of factories? I am getting fed up to the back teeth of the British Bashing going on, blaming me and today’s generation for the sins of the past. My family have never benefited from the British empire. Should we also hold the Nordic countries, Italians (Romans) and the Norman’s for the devastation of this island ? Should we hold the Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Netherlands, Turkish and many more empires throughout history for their evils? It just seems because I am born In the Uk and white (both of which I had no choice of) i am guilty for the sins of my forefathers. This is as racist as it comes and needs to be called out.

Why should one of the first countries that ended slavery and helped end it around the world have to pay anything? How about African countries stop slavery in their realm first, before anyone pays anything.

I'm pretty sure we have paid back a lot more than we took out. We send AID to all these countries year after year, its never ending, and seemingly never enough. Millions in Live AID to Africa too, when does it stop? I wasn't around back then, so I don't feel like paying money out for something I have never had a hand in.

Yes Calvin .Thank god your here .👍

Four people discussing something like this with limited time seems a tad silly. Calvin vs Arley would have been fine.

Scroungers , He really looks like he’s suffering ,I wonder if he cares about modern day slaves ? I very much doubt it

Why wasn’t the “homeland” more appealing to return to? People stayed because it was still a better opportunity and life offered from the people who bought then freed these people in slavery then the homeland that sold them in the first place. Free country to live in or leave. Most people still wish to enter western countries. If you feel that you have been wronged, then give your spot to a refugee or illegal immigrant. They want to be free. Ya’ll just want money.

Will the entitlement and victimhood ever stop from these degenerates

My family fled Ireland in 1884 to the US. Wouldn't it be curious if my family had to pay reparations to another race, when we ourselves fled from persecution. Being white has never gained me one ounce of benefit. At least black slaves in the colonies were usually fed and housed. That's a benefit. Maybe black folks should consider paying me reparations? We escaped English-controlled Ireland to become near slaves in America. We received no benefits, except manual labor, when we reached the US. Oh, plus, we had the pleasure of being greeted with signs such as "No Irish Need Apply (for work)" and "No Irish or dogs allowed (on the premises)." My personal physician has made over a million dollars in her career, her husband another physician (specialist, lung doctor) has made more than that. They've made millions of dollars in the supposed racist USA. Shouldn't they pay me for being freed from Africa to become medical doctors in America? And of of course I am being silly. My doctor has saved my life with her medical knowledge. Do I believe that my doctor/friend or her husband were given special treatment when they became physicians? No. The fact that my doctor and her husband are wealthy and I am not is not racist. They worked hard and focused on their careers, more than I did.

So if we follow Arley Gill's logic, every party involved in the Slave Trade and who benefited from it should now pay reparations for the enslavement of African people. This would include African countries themselves as it was the more powerful African Tribes who killed, captured, enslaved and sold the African slaves from other tribes to the slave traders all along the West Coast of Africa. It would also include Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, France, America, Brazil, India, Middle East Arab countries, China and Japan plus others. In fact, the greatest traders of African slaves were the Portuguese in Brazil and the Brazilians themselves. It's been calculated that over 6 million Africans were enslaved in Brazil. I accept fully though that horrific crimes were committed against those very unfortunate African people who were captured, transported, tortured and enslaved throughout their whole lifetime. I can't even imagine the daily horrors they were forced to endure. The problem I have is that they are no longer with us to receive the compensation that would be their right for the terrible sins committed against them.

Hell no.

NO NO NO !!!!

We did redress those wrongs… we spent more money enforcing the end of slavery then we made from it… we did the right thing… this is so ridiculous…

Calvin is such an articulate speaker and always spot on.

well said 👏 Calvin Robinson 👏 and Anne Withycombe 👏 God bless both of them brilliant 👏 👍 😀

We did pay reparations for it already. We spent who knows how much funding the West Africa squadron, and used taxpayers money to free everyone under the empire.

There has been slavery from time immemorial. The people of these islands were slaves, ‘Serfs’ for years and years under the varied numbers of raiders who plundered our island from the sea. These people who come bleating about such things should read up on our history. Until relatively recent times the majority of people were born into a life controlled by others. Should we be on phone in’s grizzling about our exploitation by Romans, Danes, Vikings and others who forced themselves upon us and committed unbelievable atrocities? What ever these people say it was times past and we were the first to tackle slavery and many brave people died doing so. It is worth remembering that it is only relatively recent times that we became a truly independent land after finally freeing ourselves from French and other continental kings and their friends who exacted dreadful punishments on anyone deemed to be a threat to their powers. Apparently slavery is still going on in the world, perhaps these folk should address their thoughts to eliminating this dreadful practice by approaching those responsible, but I will hold my breath.

Why don't these people who feel so strongly about it sell (one of) their houses and give the money to a local black family?

Absolutely. Also, the Romans for colonising Britain for 400 years The Vikings for colonising France. The Arabs for colonising everywhere...... Ad. Nauseam.

Wasn't the handing over of several countries to former slaves enough reparation?

guy from greneda an admitted black supremacist , he should be mocked for his views

Ann is a national treasure.

In a word, no!

I doubt the the Grenadian gentleman or Thatchell have ever heard these counter arguments because such people live in a BBC bubble

Britain abolished slavery in 1772 (UK) and 1807 (Empire colonies) and at personal cost worked against it, it only paid off it's debt for that a decade ago. In an ideal world Britain would crusade against corruption which is the root cause of poverty and misery across some former colonies but it's not up to Britain any more.

£75 million given to Grenada from 2011 to 2015 , extrapolate this since 1974 between approximately 100,000 population gives roughly £675 a person every year . I think we have more than paid enough, in fact being sent to a Caribbean island from where they came from , I believe they should be paying us a refund.

No, those countries taken out of slavery should pay us.

Green shirt man and the one in costume are W⚓️s

What is Peter going to do to compensate the families of the Pressed men who were used to end slavery? Those who had the bread winner and protector snatched away in this country? Pressed men remained in slavery long after the slave trade ended and not only were forced to hard labour by armed guard were forced to fight to the death regularly, whipped and beaten fed badly and forced into celibacy. It was not the British who began slavery in the Caribbean, it was the French, go and negotiate with them first. And let's see what reparations the UK government are going to pay their own enslaved before we look at what they are going to pay those enslaved by Africa and sold to a select few private UK citizens not it's tax payers.

Peter Tatchell just likes the sound of his own voice, anyone with a brain would understand where this lunacy would lead

England spent a fortune in debt to end slavery in the western world, it was in the news maybe a couple years ago that they had finally paid it off. Some Scandinavian countries made it illegal first, but England actually went out and tried to stop it. Only after England's push to end slavery did it catch on around the world. Supposedly there are more slaves now than at any time in the past, I have heard that before, but it would be hard to prove, because the world just doesn't care because it's happening in Asia and Africa. For the love of God, there's still open air slave markets in Africa...

Wow! Hard truth is being discussed. Good one GB News team.

We’ve been forking out foreign aid for years….any financial reparations will have to come from that budget….clearly given our own current financial position there’s nothing left in any other budgets….if there was we wouldn’t be choosing heating or eating….

Show me a person who was enslaved by us, and I will agree to pay him reparations!

It's very simple. We've BEEN paying reparations for something we had no part in up until 2013 I think it was. Asking people who have done nothing wrong to people who have not themselves been wronged is immoral. Full stop.

I thought Calvin was brilliant. But in all seriousness, When are you going to report on #therapeofbritain #telford.

Of course the slave owners would be compensated. They didn't break any laws and the government took away their property. It's abhorrent, but that's the fact of it. As for the slaves themselves, freedom was their reward. Perhaps they should've been compensated as well, but it's too late for that now.

Manchester (I think if my memory on a History lesson 40 years ago is correct) back in the day was the leading cotton manufacture in the world. When the people of Manchester understood how they received their cotton, they stopped working - to their peril - until slavery was abolished.

Grenada has done so much better as a democracy in Britain that homosexuality remains punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Calvin is spot on 👍

I’ll support the call for reparations when the Scandinavians, Romans, Barbary Pirates etc cough up my dues! Add in the West African countries that aided the Atlantic Slave Trade and we might have a basis for discussion!

When Tony Blair is tried for war crimes, I’ll think about it….

The very idea of reparations is just a technocratic way of saying “gibs me dem tings what you got, whitey”

Please !! Research all history? And stop blaming the past on the British!! Research your ancestors too??? If u have a problem with the British?? Leave!l leave ! Leave? I find this offensive, and false blaming, trying to cause divides? In what we in my opionin?in my world ,as a mother grandmother, we are all human beings. Why does , those who choose to live in the past? Choose to not move forward? And try to divide families? Who have no issues living their life in this 20/22? , This is our world now😊. History will always and should be preserved. But it's our world now, we continue to move forward. Let, our world evolve, for every living person, history will always be our past, today now, and everyday is ours.

The whole process of industrialisation was based on coal and the ingenuity of British scientists.

The big question should be when will Africa pay reperations? , After all they sold the slaves that were shipped over seas.

Well said Calvin, someone with factual knowledge and speaking the truth.