Kemi Badenoch Criticizes UK's Abstention on UN Slavery Resolution Calling for Reparations

Kemi Badenoch, who leads the Conservative Party in the UK, has stated that the nation ought to have voted against a recent UN resolution that designated slavery as a profound crime against humanity while also urging reparations from former colonial entities.

Badenoch, who has Nigerian heritage, lambasted the UK for abstaining during the vote on what she described as a demand for trillions of pounds from British taxpayers in reparations for slavery.

In a message shared on X, she wrote, “Countries such as Russia, China, and Iran joined others in calling for trillions in reparations from UK taxpayers... and yet the Labour government chose to abstain!"

She further asked, “Why did Starmer’s representative not oppose this? Was it ignorance... or cowardice?”

Recently, the UN General Assembly recognized the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, a proposal introduced by Ghana. The resolution called for a reparations fund to address the harms caused by the slave trade but did not specify any amount. It also encouraged member states to consider issuing apologies for the slave trade.

The resolution witnessed enormous support, with 123 member states voting in favor, while only three nations—Argentina, Israel, and the United States—voted against it. Notably, 52 countries, many from Europe including Britain, Portugal, and Spain, abstained from voting.

While acknowledging the severe implications of the transatlantic slave trade, which saw approximately 15 million Africans forcibly moved across the Atlantic between the 15th and 19th centuries, Badenoch argued that the UK, as a nation that played a significant role in the abolition of slavery, should not be liable for reparations. “Britain spearheaded the movements to eliminate slavery. We should not be financially penalized for a wrongdoing that we have actively worked to eliminate and continue to combat,” she stated.

Born in Wimbledon, South West London, Badenoch spent her early years in Lagos, Nigeria, and later lived in the US where her mother, a physiology professor, taught. Badenoch's birth in 1980 occurred two decades following Nigeria's independence from British colonial rule.

She returned to the UK at the age of 16 to pursue her A-levels under the care of a family friend. Since becoming the Conservative leader in 2024, she has generated controversy with her comments regarding Nigeria.

Last year, Badenoch claimed to no longer identify as Nigerian and has made claims that her Nigerian identity is limited. She has referred to herself as “Yoruba, not Nigerian,” and expressed that she felt disconnected from northern Nigerians, attributing her experiences in Nigeria to governmental dysfunction and corruption. She shared, “I witnessed the impact when politicians prioritize personal gain, treating public funds as if they were private resources.”