In 2025 reparations became central to UK ties with the Caribbean and Africa so how do we move forward? | Kenneth Mohammed

"As 2025 draws to a close, the book has landed at a moment when the subject of reparations, long treated as a fringe or rhetorical issue in Europe, has caught fire elsewhere. It is difficult to deny that this has been a pivotal year for the global reparations movement not because any consensus has been reached, but because the question itself has been mobilised."

"On one side, Caribbean states, African governments and diaspora movements are consolidating claims. On the other, Britain continues to blithely bat the issue away. The gap between the two positions is now the story. In November, the Caricom Reparations Commission, led by Sir Hilary Beckles, visited the UK. The delegation met civil society groups, academics, churches, activists and some parliamentarians. The reception at Westminster was distinctly underwhelming."

A detailed analysis breaks reparations into constituent parts and demonstrates why many common objections are intellectually incoherent, historically illiterate, or politically evasive. Slavery is described as an economic system that propelled Britain's rise and produced enduring inequalities. Rigorous argumentation is combined with warmth, humour and creative elements to sustain moral seriousness while remaining accessible. 2025 is identified as a pivotal year for the global reparations movement as claims gain momentum internationally. Caribbean states, African governments and diaspora movements are consolidating demands while the British political establishment largely avoids substantive engagement. A Caricom delegation's UK visit met civil society but faced an underwhelming Westminster reception.

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