Now why don't you take a look at reality and history? By your logic, we here in the UK should be demanding payment from Germany for every house and factory the Luftwaffe demolished in the 1940s. From the French for their invasion of our country in 1066. From the Italians for the depredations of the Roman Empire.

But we aren't. Because those things have been added into history and make us who we are. Because we learned from our losses and turned setbacks into progress.

Why can't others do the same? When the British left Africa and India, they left behind functioning democracies and legal systems. Every year since, we've poured money into those countries. Then watched as one after another collapsed into tribal wars and dictatorships. All that time and effort wasted, but you still have the gall to demand reparations!

Was the life of a slave in the cotton fields any worse than that of a miner in a Yorkshire pit? I seriously doubt it! Neither was free, neither could vote, but at least the slave-owner was obliged to feed, clothe and house his property, whereas the mine-owner had no such obligation to his 'employees'!

A few people got rich by exploiting all of the rest of us, black and white. Go for the ones who are really to blame and quit blaming those of us who had no more choice than your forefathers did!