Fans have rallied to support Boris Johnson after he published an emotional family update.
The former prime minister and ex-Henley MP – who lives just outside of Wallingford with his family – has hit out at the campaign for reparations based on the 18th century transatlantic slave trade.
He did so in his latest column for the Daily Mail in which he also revealed that he is, in fact, descended from slaves and asked whether he should be in line for any reparations as a result.
The issue has been reignited by the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, with the idea dominating discourse around the summit as well as King Charles’ visit to the Caribbean.
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Campaigners believe the UK should pay financial reparations – with some suggesting hundreds of millions of pounds – for the country’s role transporting people from Africa to plantations in America and the Caribbean in the 1700s and early 1800s.
At the end of the meeting, Commonwealth leaders declared that Britain had signed up to “structured, time-bound, inclusive and good-faith” talks that address the “historical harms” of the transatlantic slave trade.
Boris Johnson (Image: PA)
Although Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the summit “successful”, others were critical of the agreement including the former leader of the Conservatives Mr Johnson.
He said the potential apology as well as other comments would lead to greater calls for slavery reparations, which he termed “a cause that is not just morally wrong, but insane”.
Following that, he revealed that his great-great-grandmother was sold as a slave in Istanbul, having been taken to the city as a “frightened and confused” 13-year-old Circassian refugee, during the country’s takeover by Russia.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Dinner (Image: Isabel Infantes/Press Association)
He said: “Would you like to see me get some sudden wodge of cash, in compensation for the undoubted injustice suffered by my great-great-grandmother?”
After making clear he neither expected nor wanted cash, he slammed Mr Burnham’s position on the matter.
In the comment section of the Daily Mail article his fans were quick to show their support, with one person calling him “the voice of common sense”.
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Another person called his family history “fascinating” and said that it highlights the “ludicrous” claims being made.
Well-known political commentator Sarah Vine shared the comment piece on her social media and said: “Excellent point, well made.”
Following the Commonwealth summit the issue is set to continue with some suggesting an apology could be made next year.
Mr Burnham is not the first prime minister to speak out on the issue with Prime Minister Tony Blair calling Britain’s role in the slave trade a matter of “deep sorrow and regret” in 2007.
