Sir Lenny Henry has sparked controversy by calling for every black British person to receive money (Image: Getty)
Sir Lenny Henry has sparked controversy by calling for every black British person to receive slavery reparations paid for by the taxpayer.
The comedian uses a new book he has co-written called The Big Payback to push for the UK to shell out £18trillion in compensation – targeting not just Caribbean nations, but British citizens too, reports GB News.
Writing in the book, Sir Lenny stated that “all black British people… need reparations for slavery”, adding: “We personally deserve money for the effects of slavery.” The news comes after the UK’s ethnic minorities deliver devastating verdict on woke views of Britain.
Sir Lenny teamed up with TV executive and diversity charity boss Marcus Ryder to write the book, which lays out their argument and historical rationale for the cash handouts.
Majority of UK black population has African roots
The 2.4 million black people living in Britain mostly trace their heritage directly to Africa, not to slaves who lived in the Caribbean.
The book sidesteps this distinction, instead arguing that modern racism – which it links to the slave trade – affects all black people.
Based on this reasoning, the authors declare that compensation should go to all black people.
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Faber plans to release the book on October 9, with the authors arguing the UK has a duty to pay trillions in reparations – funds they say can and should be deployed for “ridding the world of racism”.
The publication insists reparations need to “dismantle the foundations” of Western societies which were erected on slavery and racism, before building “new foundations”.
Achieving this depends on the “redistribution” of power, and “changing how power is shared within countries and between countries”.
Consultancy report used to justify massive sum
The authors reference the Brattle Report, a “report on reparations for Transatlantic chattel slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean” by consultancy firm the Brattle Group.
Consultants arrived at a staggering $100trillion (nearly £74.5trillion) by assigning monetary values to the “loss of liberty” and “mental anguish” plus wages slaves never received.
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Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, has written material that appears in the book.
Kehinde Andrews, Britain’s first “black studies” professor who has claimed Winston Churchill was the “perfect embodiment of white supremacy”, that “the British Empire was far worse than the Nazis”, and that St George’s Cross is “racist”, also contributes to the publication.
Publication emerges amid growing pressure campaign
The book hits shelves as a broader movement gathers pace to extract reparations payments from European countries.
September saw Africa’s EU equivalent jump on board a campaign pressuring British taxpayers to pay reparations for the country’s so-called “historic crimes”.
The African Union demanded “meaningful reparations” from “former colonial powers” to address the exploitation of its people and land during the 1800s.
Despite mounting pressure, British Prime Ministers have repeatedly refused demands for reparations, with Sir Keir Starmer maintaining this stance.
The publication has prompted renewed debate over the issue of reparations, a subject that has been discussed in the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and other parts of the world for many years. While campaigners argue that governments should acknowledge and address the long-term consequences of the transatlantic slave trade, opponents contend that modern taxpayers should not be held financially responsible for historical injustices committed generations ago.
Economists have also questioned how any large-scale reparations programme would be funded and administered. Some argue that direct cash payments would present significant practical and legal challenges, including determining eligibility, calculating compensation and assessing the potential impact on public finances. Others have suggested that governments should instead focus on targeted investments in education, healthcare, employment and community development rather than individual financial compensation.
The issue has attracted differing views across the political spectrum. Some MPs and advocacy groups have expressed support for further discussions on reparative justice, arguing that governments should examine the lasting economic and social effects of slavery and colonialism. Others have rejected proposals for financial compensation, maintaining that public resources should be directed toward addressing present-day challenges that affect all citizens regardless of ancestry.
Historians note that the debate extends beyond questions of compensation. It also encompasses issues such as historical recognition, public education, museum collections, official apologies and the legacy of Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. In recent years, universities, local authorities and cultural institutions have commissioned research into their historical connections with slavery, leading to a wider public discussion about Britain’s past.
Supporters of reparations argue that historical injustices have had long-term economic and social consequences that continue to affect communities today. They contend that acknowledging those impacts requires more than symbolic gestures and should include meaningful policies designed to reduce persistent inequalities.
Critics, however, question whether present-day disparities can be attributed solely to the legacy of slavery. They argue that factors such as education, housing, economic policy, immigration patterns and broader socioeconomic conditions also play significant roles in shaping outcomes. Some have warned that proposals based on race could prove divisive and risk undermining social cohesion.
The publication of The Big Payback is expected to generate further discussion among academics, policymakers and community organisations. Public events, media interviews and panel discussions are likely to examine the arguments presented in the book, alongside broader questions surrounding historical responsibility and contemporary public policy.
The UK Government has consistently stated that it does not intend to introduce a programme of financial reparations for slavery. Ministers have instead pointed to existing international development initiatives, educational programmes and efforts to combat discrimination as evidence of the government’s commitment to addressing inequality.
As the debate continues, it is likely to remain one of the most contested issues in discussions about Britain’s historical legacy. While opinions differ sharply over whether financial reparations are appropriate or practical, there is broad agreement that the history of the transatlantic slave trade continues to influence conversations about race, identity and national history in the United Kingdom and beyond.