A British political party led by Nigel Farage has unveiled a controversial immigration proposal that would block visa applications from nations seeking compensation for historical slavery, sparking fierce criticism from Caribbean officials.
Reform UK announced Tuesday that it would refuse visa requests from countries pursuing reparations for transatlantic slavery, including former British colonies like Ghana and Jamaica. Despite having just eight members of parliament, the anti-immigration party currently leads in polling ahead of Britain’s next election scheduled by 2029.
Zia Yusuf, who oversees Reform’s domestic policy, defended the proposal by calling reparations demands offensive. He argued these requests “ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition,” describing the calls as “insulting.”
The announcement drew sharp condemnation from Hilary Beckles, who leads the Caribbean Community’s reparations commission. At a press conference, Beckles characterized the proposal as evidence that the “legacy of toxic racism… is still so intense that Black people are deemed undeserving” of compensation.
“Punishing the victims again is in fact consistent with those people at the time of emancipation who did not wish… to see the African people freed,” Beckles stated, urging the party to reconsider what he called a “tragic” position.
Multiple international groups have pressed for reparations in recent years, including the Caribbean Community, the African Union, and various Latin American nations. These organizations seek not just financial compensation but also formal apologies and the return of cultural artifacts taken during colonial periods.
However, resistance to reparations discussions has grown among Western leadership. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed preference to “look forward” instead of engaging in “endless discussions about reparations on the past.”
The debate gained additional prominence last month when the United Nations passed a Ghana-sponsored resolution labeling transatlantic slavery the “gravest crime against humanity” and supporting reparations efforts. Britain and other former colonial powers chose not to support the measure.
Reform UK did not respond to requests for additional comment on their proposal.
