Commonwealth politicians have said they will continue to push for reparations, after Reform UK announced a plan to halt visas for nationals of countries that formally demand reparations from Britain if the party were to take power.
The warning from Commonwealth leaders came alongside criticism from UK public figures, including a former Reform insider, who argued that the party’s pledge to “punish” countries seeking justice for slavery would damage Britain’s standing and leave it more isolated.
The dispute follows Reform UK’s declaration this week that it would stop issuing visas to people from countries that formally seek reparations from the UK. The proposal has drawn immediate concern from politicians who say it should not deter countries from continuing to raise the issue.
Commonwealth representatives said they would not be backing down from their demands. Their response suggests the debate over reparations is likely to remain a point of tension between Reform UK and politicians across the Commonwealth.
At the centre of the row is the question of how Britain should respond to countries seeking justice for slavery. Reform UK’s plan frames those requests as a reason to restrict access to visas, while critics say such a move would punish entire nations and deepen diplomatic damage.
The comments also highlight a broader concern among opponents of the policy: that instead of strengthening Britain’s position, the proposal could undermine it by creating further division with Commonwealth countries.
For now, the message from Commonwealth politicians is clear. They intend to keep pressing their case for reparations, regardless of Reform UK’s threat to impose visa restrictions if it enters government.
