'UK still has systematic RACISM!' Commentator slams memorial for sailors who fought to end slavery

The proposed monument would depict a slave before abolition, a naval officer and a freed slave.

Around 2,000 sailors died in direct combat between 1840 and 1850, while a further 15,000 died due to diseases and illness on their voyages.

Discussing the plans for the statue on Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, Kaur hit out at the plans and addressed the "racism" that still exists in the UK today.

Eamonn started by asking Kaur: “So I think you're going to be the villain of all of this then. This wouldn't be money well spent as far as you're concerned?”

Kaur replied: "Look, I think that he's entitled to put up this statue, but I think it's very misleading. I think the British have this great way of, as George Orwell once famously said, they're very hypocritical with the history of the British.

"And I think to put up this statue of this West African squadron, you don't get to make vast amounts of profit on the backs of suffering and genocide of black slaves and then say, well, let's give ourselves a pat on the back actually, because we did help save 150,000. And I would also question the motives. So after 200 years of slavery, you then wake up one day and suddenly you're on a moral high horse."

Eamonn then argued: "Well, you could say better late than ever, couldn't you?"

Kaur disagreed: "No, you couldn't say better than late than never, I'd say that is completely the wrong thing to say because actually you made all your money and suddenly it wasn't profitable anymore. And suddenly actually how will we look in the world? We want to look like we're on the moral high horse and we will try and end slavery.

"I'm not saying that the sailors who did die. I'm saying that you know their motives were probably genuine but I'd say in terms of the British motives, you made your money and now you want to pat on the back."

Eamonn revealed: "We we've done this in Belfast now. I wasn't even aware Belfast had any connection with slavery, but big port like Liverpool would be or Newcastle or Glasgow as well they've put up a picture of a guy I've never heard of in Belfast City centre. So we're all sort of aware now of our connection and how this guy abolished slavery. So there's a sort of feel good factor."

Kaur fumed at the comment, stating: "Oh, of course that's just your white saviour guild. It's a bit like a sword in your guild for all the wrongs that were done. And actually, let's celebrate this one man. What about all the 3.4 million black slaves and so many were killed and therefore you now put up a statue of this is this kind of white man?"

Eamonn then brought the debate back to the current war in Israel, stating: "This is going to be the same row we're going to get with Gaza and Israel. It'll never be able to be solved, because everybody will always go back in time and remember the wrongs that were done against their people."

Kaur fought back, saying: "That's the other thing, Eamonn. I think we go on this 'well, that was hundreds of years ago', that's an excuse because guess what, we still have systematic racism in this country, and actually people are still suffering in the Caribbean!"

Eamonn then asked: "Would it not heal your little grandchildren or whatever, when they come into the world, would that not heal that you go back and you say, look, there was a good person and this horribleness existed?"

Kaur disagreed: "No, because the ramifications of slavery are still felt today. We have systematic racism and actually there's poverty in the Caribbean. They're poor. And guess what, people in this country are rich. And that's not right because it's still felt today. So we can't ignore this."

Eamonn asked in conclusion: "So what would appease things for you?"

Kaur suggested: "I think reparations. How can you sit rich in your own house knowing you took from other people in an oppressive and disgusting manner. These people were treated terribly. You can't live your life that it was hundreds of years ago. It's an excuse."