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The Leader of the UK Conservative Party and Member of Parliament for North West Essex, Kemi Badenoch, has strongly criticised the British government’s decision to abstain from a recent vote on United Nation resolution calling for reparations over slavery.

In a post on X, Badenoch expressed concern that countries including Russia, China, and Iran supported the draft resolution presented by Ghana which demanded that transatlantic slave trade be declared gravest crime against humanity and called for reparations.

According to her the reparations could ultimately place a burden on UK taxpayers.

She questioned why the government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, did not vote against the proposal, suggesting that the decision to abstain reflected either “ignorance or cowardice.”

“Russia, China and Iran vote with others to demand trillions in reparations from UK taxpayers…and the Labour government abstain! Britain led the fight to end slavery.

“Why didn’t Starmer’s representative vote against this? Ignorance…or cowardice?” Badenoch argued, adding that the UK should not be held financially responsible for historical injustices it played a role in abolishing.

She further maintained that the country continues to oppose slavery and human trafficking in the modern era, reinforcing her view that demands for reparations from the UK are unjustified.

“We shouldn’t be paying for a crime we helped eradicate and still fight today,” she added.

Her comments come amid ongoing global debates over reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and the path toward reparatory justice.

The resolution, introduced by Ghana, was adopted with 123 votes in favour, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against it.

A total of 52 countries abstained, including the UK and several European Union member states.

The draft resolution calls on nations to acknowledge their roles in the slave trade, consider issuing formal apologies, and support global reparations fund.

Addressing the plenary of the United Nations General Assembly to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Wednesday, March 25, President Mahama said the proposed resolution represents a collective effort to confront historical injustices and pursue reparatory justice.

“Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of the slave trade and those who continue to suffer racial discrimination,” he told the assembly.

“’The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting. It also challenges the enduring scars of slavery,’’ he said.

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