Sir Lenny Henry has sparked debate by claiming that all black Britons should receive slavery reparations. In his new book, The Big Payback, the comedian argues that the UK should provide unspecified financial compensation to its black population due to the lasting 'effects of slavery'.
Henry contends that modern-day racism can be traced back to the transatlantic slave trade, and that reparations must 'dismantle the foundations' of Western society built on slavery and racism, creating 'new foundations' instead. The book cites a 2023 Brattle Group report suggesting the UK owes £18 trillion in payments to former Caribbean colonies.
The proposal has prompted a poll by the Daily Mail, asking readers whether the UK should pay slavery reparations to its black population. The poll follows a previous survey where 90% of respondents agreed with Robert Jenrick's complaint about not seeing another white face in Handsworth.
