Okay I’m starting to get quite pissed about this whole retribution for our role in the slave trade thing now too. Funky Farmer had his rant on the topic yesterday, but it looks as if it’s my turn now!

Let me make my position clear from the start: I abhor the concept of slavery and champion the likes of Wilberforce who did so much to end Britain’s involvement in the African slave trade. As a member of Her Majesty’s armed forces, as a trade unionist, as a local councillor and as a member of the human race, I have spent my life fighting for the rights of others. Neither I nor as far as I’m aware any other member of my family has ever been directly involved in any form of slavery, so why the fuck am I being told I have a moral responsibility to apologise and make retribution for the sins of others?

I refer to an article in this morning’s news; Milton Brown, mayor of Clarendon in Jamaica has called on Wales to compensate his country for the legacy of poverty he says has been left by the slave trade.

Brown says that countries involved in the trade had a "moral responsibility" to help those affected.

The town of Clarendon was once dominated by a Welsh slave-owning family and the mayor argues that slavery has left a lasting legacy in the Caribbean, whereas Wales made long-term gains in the growth of industries like copper and iron, which were boosted by slavery.

It’s all starting to get a bit out of hand isn’t it? Apologies have already been made for Britain’s historic past by various politicians and prominent members of society. Cities like Bristol and Liverpool have erected monuments and city and town councils have publicly apologised for their past. Education covers the topic of Britain’s role in slavery and shows it for the disgrace it was. What more are we supposed to do?

Let's not forget that Britain led the world in the abolition of slavery...

Conveniently it is always forgotten that the indigenous peoples of the British Isles have in their past been invaded, subjugated, shipped as slaves to foreign countries and generally down-trodden: who’s paying retribution to us?

And while we’re on the subject let’s not forget that slavery is alive and well in some areas of this modern world, only of course it’s not called 'slavery' any more. Seems to me some of the people who are now spending their lives bleating about retribution would be better employed making lasting changes in their own back yards!