A regular commentator on GB News has sparked outrage by defending the British Empire, calling it “one of the most progressive in history” despite its controversial legacy of slavery, land grabs, and concentration camps.
Sunil Sharma, appearing on Great British Breakfast with hosts Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, set out a revisionist case for the Empire’s historical role. He suggested that while the British Empire committed atrocities, such as slavery and the exploitation of colonies, these should be viewed in the context of the time and not judged by today’s moral standards.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sharma expressed his frustration: “I am sick of hearing people moaning about the British Empire and that we should feel some sort of guilt. It makes no sense to compare today’s social standards to standards of the past.”
However, his remarks have drawn significant backlash, with critics highlighting the darker side of British colonial rule. Even by the standards of its time, British imperialism was marked by brutality and exploitation, with millions suffering as a direct result of colonial policies.
While supporters of the Empire often argue that British rule brought economic development and infrastructure to its colonies, historians point to the devastating impacts. Under British control, millions of Indians died in famines exacerbated by policies that prioritized British interests over local populations, including the export of food during periods of starvation. Some estimates suggest that British colonialism was responsible for the deaths of 100 million Indians over a span of 40 years—more than the famines caused by the Soviet Union, Maoist China, and North Korea combined.
Moreover, the British Empire’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade remains one of its most egregious legacies. Between 1662 and 1807, British ships are estimated to have transported over 3.4 million Africans, with nearly 3 million surviving the brutal “middle passage” and being sold into slavery in the Americas.
Historian Afua Hirsch has called the slave trade “the greatest manmade human calamity of all time.”
Sharma’s remarks have reignited a debate about how the British Empire should be remembered—whether it should be acknowledged for its contributions to global development or condemned for the immense human suffering it caused.
Regardless of differing views, critics argue that dismissing the atrocities committed during British colonial rule as a by-product of “different standards” ignores the profound impact on millions of lives.
You can watch it below:
https://x.com/SunilSharmaUK/status/1833109475323969560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1833440275202441458%7Ctwgr%5E71d729e7a9103cff52e93ff72fa361e7a22a9601%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelondoneconomic.com%2Fnews%2Fmedia%2Fgb-news-says-british-empire-was-most-progressive-in-history-382619%2FYou may also like: Suella Braverman slammed by watchdog for public rebuke of police
