Richard Madeley accused of ‘minimising slavery’ in uncomfortable interview with President of Guyana

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Richard Madeley has come under fire for a heated discussion with the President of Guyana, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Good Morning Britain.

President Ali was on the show to discuss his view that the UK should pay slavery reparations after the UN asked countries to consider compensation for the ‘harms suffered as a result of colonialism and enslavement’.

Opening up the interview, Madeley, 67, asked Ali, 43, why the UK should carry a burden for what happened in history.

‘Oh, it’s not a burden at all. You are one of the beneficiaries of that slave trade so this is not a burden,’ he replied.

‘You should be concerned and you should pay because you today still benefit from the greatest indignity to the human being and that is the slave trade. 

‘And not only did you benefit during the slave trade and your country develop but look at what it cost the developing world. 

Richard Madeley was criticised for his interview (Picture: ITV)

‘During slavery, resources was used to build your country, build up your capacity. You were able to then become competitive, able to invest in mechanisation and developing countries like ours were left behind so you should be very concerned because you are prime beneficiaries of exploits of slavery.’

Things then escalated with Madeley said: ‘You feel that it’s not just about the finances involved but in terms of reparations to slavery,’ and slammed the table.

He continued: ‘It’s about the gestures and you think that the British royal family should make a big gesture don’t you? What do you mean hand over a palace?’

‘We don’t want the British public to hand over palaces we built,’ replied President Ali. Madeley could be heard laughing at his response.

The exchange was heated (Picture: Good Morning Britain)

He added that in the palaces you will see ‘the sweat, blood and tears of the slaves who were exploited’.

‘So what do you want?’ questioned Madeley.

He simply replied: ‘We’re asking for justice.’

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Viewers reacted to the exchange on social media and called out Madeley for the way he approached the subject and the interviewee.

One person wrote: ‘Is Richard Madeley’s shiny suit alright? He is talking to a head of state and he’s banging the desk like that for what? Why is laughing like that when slavery is mentioned? Very telling and loaded behaviour’.

‘Whilst attempting to minimise slavery and reparations, Richard Madeley gets his arse handed to him live on television by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana,’ added another.

One viewer stated Madeley’s interview proved why the UK needed to pay financial compensation.

Some viewers thought the President needed more respect (Picture: Good Morning Britain)

‘Richard Madeley illustrates perfectly why the UK should pay reparations as until they do accept some responsibility for the legacy of slavery self-entitled arrogance will be the norm,’ they wrote.

Other people say it from a different point of view.

‘If 18 trillion is the figure. That works out at 562k per each tax payer. So for all those that agree with the president, I suggest you contact him to arrange payment,’ wrote one person.

Another asked: ‘Where does this argument end? what the Germans did to the Jews in the war? Do they owe compensation to the Jewish relatives? at one time in South Africa, it was not illegal to shoot a black person the list goes on this is a ridiculous argument’.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV. 

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