I see Blair has apologised for the slave trade. Why? it wasn't him. It was of course horrific especially for those who died in the slave ships 'en route but to expect a prime minister 200 years later to go around grovelling is a bit rich.

I also noted that the campaigners were seeking financial reparations - and who is this money to go to? Surely none of the slaves are knocking about 200 odd years later.

It's all very strange.

When's the Italian PM going to apologise to large parts of what is now Europe, Africa and Asia for building the Roman Empire 2000 years ago?

And what about those Norwegian Vikings, ransacking the Monastery on the Headland? Etc.

Whilst the slave trade is not a proud part of British history and it's right that it shouldn't be forgotten, making claims against the banks is a bit silly.

With all of the plaggy mancs

What I find ironic, is that 200 years ago, our ancestors will have lead lives not much better than slaves anyway.

ironic innit the government (well league of nations) spent millions rebuilding germany after WWI (whereas we got nothing as businesses were considered to be low priority stil skint now cos of that when the initial funding was dished out in britain).

even more ironic that after spending so ferkin much rebuilding the fookin place that we went and bombed it again 20 bastad years later.

My mate was in germany a while back and commented that all the train stations and well smart and not old and victorian like lots of our - had to remind him on that we did bomb the fook out of most of em.

Slavery - pc bandwagon crap - welcome to the board now blair - embarrassment