The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have failed to capture public interest, with few major stars and limited television coverage, writes Leo McKinstry. He argues that the decline of the sporting event mirrors the deeper problems of the Commonwealth itself.
A relic of empire
McKinstry describes the Commonwealth as a struggling institution weighed down by its colonial legacy. He notes that many member states exploit Britain's past by promoting mass immigration and demanding reparations for the slave trade, including a claim for £18 trillion that would bankrupt the UK.
Crisis in Glasgow
The games were scaled back after the original hosts, Victoria in Australia, withdrew due to rising costs. The same happened in 2022 when Durban, South Africa, pulled out. Birmingham stepped in but the £770 million cost bankrupted the city.
Governance and human rights
McKinstry criticises Commonwealth leadership for empty rhetoric on liberal democracy while many members suppress free expression. He points out that in over half of Commonwealth countries, homosexuality is illegal, and more than 80% of the 2.7 billion population live under authoritarian regimes, such as Tanzania under Samia Suluhu Hassan, who won a rigged election.
He notes the recent admission of Togo and Gabon, corrupt autocracies with no historical ties to Britain. The Secretariat faces allegations of misuse of expenses under Baroness Patricia Scotland, and an internal review described financial systems as “outdated,” managers as “weak,” youth policy as “tokenistic,” and board meetings as “fractious, and lacking in meaningful discussions.”
Impact on Britain
McKinstry argues that Commonwealth citizens' unique settlement rights have driven mass immigration and cultural change, linking it to the rise of grooming gangs and Islamic dress codes. He criticises the automatic right to vote for Commonwealth citizens, calling it “self-harm” and urging Britain to push for reform rather than concede to reparations.
