Keir Starmer Labour Leader

They should, if they had any sense, even from the head if not the heart, entertain reparations because the UK (other than the US) is somewhat isolated and the commonwealth is a international bloc of sorts which can become more than it is based on equality through shared cultural experiences (which experiences stress a post-colonial equality). 20 trillion over the next few years is roughly where the EU's economy is at and not far off the US itself (9 trillion or so).

Problems? As a pure economic bloc it faces BRICS and other potential and existent groupings which are entirely economic. But there is still something there regarding foreign direct investment opportunities across the commonwealth. I wouldn't alienate them, personally (for the sake of a right-wing ethos which thinks any entertainment of reparations is some variety of capitulation).
 
neverdie said:
They should, if they had any sense, even from the head if not the heart, entertain reparations because the UK (other than the US) is somewhat isolated and the commonwealth is a international bloc of sorts which can become more than it is based on equality through shared cultural experiences (which experiences stress a post-colonial equality). 20 trillion over the next few years is roughly where the EU's economy is at and not far off the US itself (9 trillion or so).

Problems? As a pure economic bloc it faces BRICS and other potential and existent groupings which are entirely economic. But there is still something there regarding foreign direct investment opportunities across the commonwealth. I wouldn't alienate them, personally (for the sake of a right-wing ethos which thinks any entertainment of reparations is some variety of capitulation).
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I don't support reparations for this, and I think any government that did would get murdered at the election.
 
nickm said:
I don't support reparations for this, and I think any government that did would get murdered at the election.
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The election is five years away. If reparations leads to better international tie among one of the few somewhat solid groups the UK actually seems to "lead" (in partnership) then it's worth doing. The general interest of the CW as investment bloc over time (and it will be massive if it is held together in economic terms: 5-8 times the UK economy in a few years) is worth it (reparations). Even symbolic amounts (hundreds of millions over time as a leveling gesture) You get this back easily (assuming there is a competent investment strategy which is a jump given the state of "politics" in the UK over the past god knows how long).

Also the right thing to do. Why would the UK not want to better itself in the Global South given how easily it alienates itself there by all the manner of nonsense it either leads or barks (is led into)? And this is what those nations, affected by UK slavery practices, want. Otherwise, why not dissolve the CW altogether? It will go that way (can) very easily.
 
neverdie said:
The election is five years away. If reparations leads to better international tie among one of the few somewhat solid groups the UK actually seems to "lead" (in partnership) then it's worth doing. The general interest of the CW as investment bloc over time (and it will be massive if it is held together in economic terms: 5-8 times the UK economy in a few years) is worth it (reparations). Even symbolic amounts (hundreds of millions over time as a leveling gesture) You get this back easily (assuming there is a competent investment strategy which is a jump given the state of "politics" in the UK over the past god knows how long).

Also the right thing to do. Why would the UK not want to better itself in the Global South given how easily it alienates itself there by all the manner of nonsense it either leads or barks (is led into)? And this is what those nations, affected by UK slavery practices, want. Otherwise, why not dissolve the CW altogether? It will go that way (can) very easily.
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To paraphrase The Princess Bride, these countries are trying to kidnap what we have rightfully stolen.
 
neverdie said:
The election is five years away. If reparations leads to better international tie among one of the few somewhat solid groups the UK actually seems to "lead" (in partnership) then it's worth doing. The general interest of the CW as investment bloc over time (and it will be massive if it is held together in economic terms: 5-8 times the UK economy in a few years) is worth it (reparations). Even symbolic amounts (hundreds of millions over time as a leveling gesture) You get this back easily (assuming there is a competent investment strategy which is a jump given the state of "politics" in the UK over the past god knows how long).

Also the right thing to do. Why would the UK not want to better itself in the Global South given how easily it alienates itself there by all the manner of nonsense it either leads or barks (is led into)? And this is what those nations, affected by UK slavery practices, want. Otherwise, why not dissolve the CW altogether? It will go that way (can) very easily.
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The UK already spends 15bn a year on foreign aid. Whether we spend that in the right places, or well, I don't know, but a large chunk goes to the global south already, with recipients including CW countries.
 
neverdie said:
The election is five years away. If reparations leads to better international tie among one of the few somewhat solid groups the UK actually seems to "lead" (in partnership) then it's worth doing. The general interest of the CW as investment bloc over time (and it will be massive if it is held together in economic terms: 5-8 times the UK economy in a few years) is worth it (reparations). Even symbolic amounts (hundreds of millions over time as a leveling gesture) You get this back easily (assuming there is a competent investment strategy which is a jump given the state of "politics" in the UK over the past god knows how long).

Also the right thing to do. Why would the UK not want to better itself in the Global South given how easily it alienates itself there by all the manner of nonsense it either leads or barks (is led into)? And this is what those nations, affected by UK slavery practices, want. Otherwise, why not dissolve the CW altogether? It will go that way (can) very easily.
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The Caribbean countries alone have talked about wanting $18tn of reparations, more than six times the size of the UK's economy. The likelihood of a UK prime minister agreeing is minimal and probably diminishing year by year as slavery sinks deeper into the past. Aligning with Asia Pacific would be far more lucrative.
 
Jippy said:
The Caribbean countries alone have talked about wanting $18tn of reparations, more than six times the size of the UK's economy. The likelihood of a UK prime minister agreeing is minimal and probably diminishing year by year as slavery sinks deeper into the past. Aligning with Asia Pacific would be far more lucrative.
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They're never going to get trillions and they know this. It's the political opening statement.
 
nickm said:
The UK already spends 15bn a year on foreign aid. Whether we spend that in the right places, or well, I don't know, but a large chunk goes to the global south already, with recipients including CW countries.
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Strategic foreign investment funds (governmental) is/are not foreign aid. You no doubt know this already. And that's the frame to consider it in.
 
neverdie said:
They're never going to get trillions and they know this. It's the political opening statement.
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Indeed, but you know it's unlikely. They aren't going to want to set precedents and open those floodgates, even if they agreed 'only' billions spread over years.
 
Jippy said:
Indeed, but you know it's unlikely. They aren't going to want to set precedents and open those floodgates, even if they agreed 'only' billions spread over years.
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I don't think Starmer's government is going to do it, no. I do think it will cause problems with the CW long-term, particularly with the new generations, which contra to sentiment (elsewhere in this thread), will only learn more and more about their histories (as is the case already qua the last/current generation) and will seek departures.

The CW has to have something - like the CW sporting events - to make it hold as a supranational/cultural group with economic-investment (mutual) potential. It could, not all nations, unravel with grievances regarding the structure of the CW. Maybe not. Just a potentiality.
 
neverdie said:
They're never going to get trillions and they know this. It's the political opening statement.
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Suggest our counter offer is the bill our navy racked up patrolling the seas for 70 years to enforce the abolition of the slave trade...
 
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