Lammy Lectured Civil Servants On Slavery During Chagos Sovereignty Crisis
As the Chagos Islands were in the process of being given to Mauritius you might have thought Foreign Secretary Lammy would be focussed on the aftermath of Starmer’s decision to damage UK strategic interests and shrink its territory. Wrong…
Lammy was, as usual, more interested in talking about race. He sent round an internal memo to diplomats in the FCDO as the news was blowing up talking about… slavery:
“Black History Month is a moment to reflect on the impact of black heritage and culture on our country and our place in the world. It’s a chance to celebrate the enormous contribution of black people in Britain, and also to acknowledge some of our country’s most painful history.
This is important to all of us in the FCDO. First, because of this Department’s role in that history. From King Charles Street, British officials administered colonies in which millions were enslaved. My ancestors were among them, taken from Africa across the Atlantic to labour in the Caribbean.
Second, because of this Department’s role today. Our job is to represent the UK, a nation in which black Britons make an astounding contribution in all walks of life.”
Guido hates to point out the Foreign Secretary’s historical innaccuracies, but the Charles Street building was completed as a Foreign Office headquarters in 1868 – 35 years after the complete abolition of slavery across the empire. History’s never been Lammy’s strong suit…
Lammy’s more interested in lecturing his staff about himself than doing his job. No change there…
