Reform UK pledges visa ban on countries seeking slavery reparations

Reform UK has announced that if it wins the next general election, it will refuse to issue new visas to nationals from any country that formally demands slavery reparations from Britain.

The policy, unveiled by the party’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, would apply to all visa categories, including visitor and work visas. Reform named several Caribbean and African nations as being “on notice,” including Barbados, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Ghana — the latter having proposed a UN resolution on the issue.

“Countries seeking reparations ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition,” Yusuf said.

The announcement comes two weeks after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution describing the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution, which passed 123–3, also stated that reparations claims “represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs.” Britain was among the nations that abstained.

Reform said it would consider actions such as establishing national reparations committees, filing UN motions, or making high court claims as formal demands that would trigger the visa ban.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) first issued a 10-point reparatory justice plan more than a decade ago, seeking a formal apology, debt cancellation, and investments in health and literacy.

The Labour Party dismissed Reform’s proposal as a “desperate gimmick,” while the Liberal Democrats accused the party of “chasing cheap headlines by threatening our allies” and warned the move would harm the UK economy and public services. The Conservatives declined to comment.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously ruled out paying reparations, saying after a Commonwealth summit last October that the UK’s position remains “very clear.” Commonwealth leaders at that meeting agreed that “the time has come” for a conversation on the issue, despite British efforts to keep it off the agenda.