Jeremy Corbyn pledges formal inquiry into ‘Britain’s colonial legacy’

Jeremy Corbyn confirms a Labour government will conduct a formal inquiry into the impact of ‘Britain’s colonial legacy’ if he wins the general election on December 12

  • Jeremy Corbyn today launched the Labour Party’s general election manifesto 
  • Blueprint contains plan to ‘conduct an audit’ of the impact of the British Empire
  • Will seek to assess UK’s ‘contribution to the dynamics of violence and insecurity’ 

Jeremy Corbyn today promised to launch a formal inquiry into the impact of ‘Britain’s colonial legacy’ if the UK elects a Labour government on December 12. 

Mr Corbyn unveiled Labour’s general election manifesto at an event in Birmingham this morning. 

His blueprint for the UK includes a proposal to ‘conduct an audit’ examining the lasting impact of the British Empire. 

The probe would aim to assess the UK’s ‘contribution to the dynamics of violence and insecurity’ in areas previously under British control. 

Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn has also committed to establishing an ‘Emancipation Educational Trust’ which would be tasked with educating people about migration and colonialism and to ‘address the legacy of slavery’. 

Jeremy Corbyn unveiled the Labour Party’s general election manifesto at an event in Birmingham today

The manifesto said a Labour government would: ‘Conduct an audit of the impact of Britain’s colonial legacy to understand our contribution to the dynamics of violence and insecurity across regions previously under British colonial rule.’ 

The manifesto added: ‘Create an Emancipation Educational Trust to educate around migration and colonialism, and to address the legacy of slavery and teach how it interrupted a rich and powerful black history which is also British history.’

The document also sets out plans to pay a lump sum of £50,000 to each surviving British nuclear-test veteran to help ‘support them and their families with the health conditions they have suffered as a result of exposure to radiation’.  

Labour’s pledge to investigate the UK’s colonial past is in stark contrast to comments made by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage earlier in the election campaign. 

Mr Farage said people should stop apologising and ‘obsessing’ over events which took place a long time ago.

A poll in 2016 found that only 21 per cent of Britons regretted the country’s colonial past, while 44 per cent said they were proud of it.

Mr Corbyn today issued a staunch defence when asked about people who do not believe he is patriotic.

He said: ‘Yes, I do support this country. I am patriotic about this country. I’m patriotic about all people in this country. 

‘That means patriotism is about caring for the entire society. Patriotism is about supporting each other, not attacking somebody else.’

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