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Reform UK Threatens to Deny Visas to Citizens of Countries Demanding Reparations
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Reform UK proposes denying visas to citizens of countries that demand transatlantic slavery reparations, drawing strong criticism from CARICOM’s commission as perpetuating a “legacy of toxic racism.”
Reform UK to Deny Visas to Countries Demanding Slavery Reparations
By Catarina Demony
Reform UK’s Visa Policy and International Reactions
Reform UK’s Proposal and Rationale
LONDON, April 7 (Reuters) - Nigel Farage's Reform UK said on Tuesday it was proposing to deny visas to people from countries seeking amends for transatlantic slavery, a move swiftly condemned by the Caribbean reparations commission as a "legacy of toxic racism".
The anti-immigration and populist party Reform UK, which has only eight national lawmakers but is topping opinion polls ahead of an election in Britain due by 2029, said it would "block visa requests from any country that demands slavery reparations," which include Commonwealth countries of Britain's former empire such as Ghana and Jamaica.
Party’s Justification
Zia Yusuf, Reform's policy chief for home affairs, said reparations calls were "insulting" as they "ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition".
Global Calls for Reparations
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) group of nations, the African Union bloc and several Latin American countries have called for reparations, not only for historical injustices but for their lasting impacts, including racial disparities and economic underdevelopment.
Momentum and Backlash
Longstanding calls for reparations, including formal apologies, financial compensation and the return of stolen artefacts, have gained momentum in recent years, though backlash is also growing.
Western Leaders’ Opposition
Several Western leaders have opposed even discussing the subject, arguing that today's states and institutions should not be held responsible for the past. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would like to "look forward" rather than have "endless discussions about reparations on the past".
Reactions from Caribbean Leaders
Reacting to Reform's proposal, Hilary Beckles, chair of the CARICOM-backed reparations commission, said the party should "rethink" its stance, calling it "tragic" that people he said were seeking justice would be punished.
"Punishing the victims again is in fact consistent with those people at the time of emancipation who did not wish... to see the African people freed," Beckles said at a news conference.
Beckles said the "legacy of toxic racism... is still so intense that Black people are deemed undeserving" of reparations.
Reform UK’s Response
Reform did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Recent Developments at the United Nations
Last month, the United Nations adopted a resolution proposed by Ghana declaring transatlantic slavery the "gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparations, with former colonial powers such as Britain abstaining.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Key Takeaways
- •Reform UK vows to block visa applications from nations seeking slavery reparations, including Ghana and Jamaica; policy reflects party’s hardline immigration stance and forthcoming election strategy. (punchng.com)
- •CARICOM’s reparations commission, led by Hilary Beckles, condemned the proposal, calling it tragic and a continuation of punitive racism. (apnews.com)
- •Analysts note Reform UK’s broader immigration agenda includes visa freezes for countries that don’t repatriate their nationals, underscoring contrast with government immigration reforms under Starmer. (itv.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Reform UK threatens to deny visas to citizens of countries demanding reparations
1What is Reform UK's new policy proposal regarding visas?
Reform UK proposes to block visa requests from any country demanding slavery reparations from Britain.
2Which countries would be affected by Reform UK’s visa policy?
Commonwealth countries such as Ghana, Jamaica, and other nations demanding reparations would be affected.
3Who has criticized Reform UK's visa proposal?
The Caribbean reparations commission and its chair, Hilary Beckles, have condemned the proposal as a legacy of toxic racism.
4What is the reason Reform UK gives for opposing reparations?
Reform UK argues that calls for reparations are insulting and ignore Britain’s historical role in outlawing slavery.
5What action did the United Nations recently take regarding transatlantic slavery?
The UN adopted a resolution declaring transatlantic slavery the gravest crime against humanity and called for reparations.
