Britain’s Attorney General Lord Hermer previously helped Caribbean nations prepare legal cases seeking slavery reparations from the UK.
Legal sources claim Lord Hermer, now the Government’s chief legal adviser, assisted the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and human rights lawyers a decade ago in developing potential compensation claims against Britain.
The work began in 2013 when Caricom launched its campaign to secure payments from former colonial powers.
Lord Hermer’s involvement with Caricom came through human rights law firm Leigh Day, which was engaged to explore potential legal action.
In a 2020 podcast, Lord Hermer himself recalled “representing Caribbean nations on a potential reparations case”.
The proposed legal case was never officially brought against Britain, but the legal advice provided helped formulate Caricom’s 10-point plan for reparations in 2014, according to The Telegraph.
Lord Richard Hermer ‘advised Caribbean nations’ on slavery reparations
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The legal strategy was inspired by a successful 2013 case where the British Government was sued by Kenyan victims of torture during the 1952-1960 Mau Mau emergency.
Lord Hermer had acted as counsel for the Kenyan claimants after being engaged by Leigh Day.
Following this victory, Caricom sought Leigh Day’s advice on pursuing a similar legal approach for slavery reparations.
A Caricom delegation is set to visit London in April 2025 to discuss reparations claims of up to £18trillion.
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The Government’s position remains firm that it will not pay reparations
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Sources say the group is arranging meetings with Foreign Office officials.
However, the Foreign Office has stated that Foreign Secretary David Lammy has no planned meetings with Caricom.
The Government’s position remains firm that it will not pay reparations.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called for clarity on whether Lord Hermer has advised ministers on matters involving his past clients.
Lord Hermer revealed in January that he had recused himself from certain Government matters due to potential conflicts of interest, though he could not specify which issues.
Speaking in the House of Lords, he said there was “an established system” for handling conflicts, with other law officers stepping in when needed.
The Foreign Office has stated that Foreign Secretary David Lammy has no planned meetings with Caricom
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Caricom’s original 10-point plan, signed in 2014, includes demands for a formal apology, educational support and debt cancellation.
Leigh Day partner Jacqueline McKenzie has defended the ongoing relevance of reparations claims, stating: “To say the period of enslavement was in the past, implying that this was too long ago to matter now, is quite offensive.”
She added: “The legacy of ill effects and underdevelopment continue to haunt those nations affected.”
An updated set of demands is expected to be presented during the 2025 London visit, expanding beyond the original 10-point plan.
The new proposals will include additional details on both slavery and the system of indentured servitude that followed it.
The push comes after Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, now Caricom chairman, raised the issue of reparations at the 2024 Commonwealth summit in Samoa.
