Even before Stand Up To Racism trained their sights on Mr Drax, a pan-West Indian movement had been agitating for Britain and other European nations to pay vast settlements. South Dorset MP Richard Drax, 62, own Drax Hall in Saint George, Barbados The plantation had a workforce of 327 enslaved people for nearly 200 years Sir Hilary Beckles is demanding he pays. He was promoted captain on 10 March 1986. He recently paid Bds$59,375 (22,200) in annual land tax. Burke, vol. But it is Richard Drax MPs inheritance in Barbados, amassed over centuries by his ancestors ownership and appalling treatment of African people which drags him into the spotlight. There is precedence for compensating descendants of slaves. Lynne added, "Richard Drax is immensely wealthywith wealth exceeding 150 million. Here is a key to explain those letter codes: Prominent Liverpool merchant and slave-trader. My parents died in short succession and administration of both estates is ongoing. The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it. It has a Reparations Commission, whose chair is Sir Hilary Beckles. A wealthy Tory MP is facing demands to pay reparations for his familys part in the Caribbean slave trade after the Observer revealed that he now controls the plantation where his ancestors created the first slave-worked sugar plantation in the British empire almost 400 years ago. It was ironic that this had made him a visible target for the reparations-seekers. Tending his garden, not far from the plantation, Arthur Thomas, a retired teacher well-versed in the history of slavery, bravely opened an unspoken aspect of the debate. When, periodically, the Africans rebelled, the reprisals were shockingly swift and savage. See full bio . Enjoying a few Independence Day drinks outside the Old Brigand pub, some locals suggested their absentee English estate owner (Richard Drax visits his estate only once a year and has never lived there) should be made to help needy families. That this nation exploited more slaves than any other is an often-rehearsed fact. Why did this happen? We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. I think its more of a moral argument, he said, adding that Mr Drax would be well-advised to save his reputation by accepting responsibility, apologising, and volunteering a substantial sum towards opening a slavery awareness museum, or some similar project. In response, Drax replied in the Dorset Echo that: 'I cant be held responsible for something that happened 300 or 400 years ago. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Since then, we've grown to have approximately 12,000 offices throughout the United States and around the world. Since then, we've grown to have approximately 12,000 offices throughout the United States and around the world. A cousin is the 19th and present Lord Dunsany. 3784 (Drax Hall). [1], The Barbados Government is seeking reparations from Drax for his ancestors' involvement in slavery. The value of the personalty was 10,381. They called us Little England, and in a lot of ways we still are.. In January 2016, the Labour Party unsuccessfully proposed an amendment in Parliament that would have required private landlords to make their homes "fit for human habitation". ), became owner of Drax Hall. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 29 January. He relinquished his British Army commission on 9 September 1987, thereby retiring after nine years' service as a Coldstreamer. It provided a sound education for the superstar singer Rihanna. If this request is refused, the government intends to take the matter to an international arbitration court. Lets say that things didnt go too well from there, the insider says. Richard Rider (Nova). His brother William took their methods to Jamaica where the former plantation area is also still known as Drax Hall. Early life [ edit] Drax was born on 29 January 1958 in Westminster, London, into a landowner family. But this was only by comparison with other plantation bosses. Beckles told us that historically the Drax family has done more harm and violence to the black people of Barbados than any other family. Drax kills Thanos. The department needs to respond to the very real concerns of beleaguered NHS professionals.Neil MacehiterGreat Shelford, Cambridge. An updated register was published over Christmas, revealing an apparent scramble to declare father-of-four Mr Draxs previously unregistered business interests. He had relied upon his accountants to file the necessary accounts and, when he was made aware of the unintended omission, instructed them to immediately rectify the position.. Yet are we to suppose that China, with its ruthless suppression of the Uighurs and Covid lockdown protesters, is morally superior to the unenlightened slavers of Stuart and Georgian England? The roads are filled with Beijing-built buses. On his familys side he inherited Olantigh, near Wye, Kent in 1851. Barbados is not a Third World country, he said. Selected as a Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate in July 2006, at the general election in May 2010 Drax defeated the incumbent Labour Member of Parliament for South Dorset, Jim Knight, later Baron Knight of Weymouth. One only had to watch the parade to see what he meant. But the shadow of slavery hangs over the gilded life of Richard Drax, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge was the eldest son of Samuel Elias Sawbridge (b.1769 - d.1851), an MP and landowner, and the grandson of John Sawbridge (1732?-1795), MP for Hythe 1768-74 and for London 1774-1795 and Lord Mayor of London in 1775. This is a part of the nations history, from which we must all learn., The Barbadian historian Beckles, however, told the Observer: It is no answer for Richard Drax to say it has nothing to do with him when he is the owner and the inheritor. Catherine Bennett was right to question the special Eton magic (Just what is the special Eton magic that allows it to turn out epic oafs year after year?, Comment). Its always intrigued me that Drax Plantation is still functioning. [. Once that process is completed, I will of course register it in proper accordance with the rules.. . March 1, 2023, 6:11 p.m. Now he could be on the hook for reparations", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Drax&oldid=1139014260, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 22:40. Selected as a Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate in July 2006, at the general election in May 2010 Drax defeated the incumbent Labour Member of Parliament for South Dorset, Jim Knight, later Lord Knight of Weymouth. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. he is one of famous Politician with the age 63 years old group. Drax's response questioned his responsibility for "something that happened 300 or 400 years ago", stating "it's not what I stand for", and cited the desperation of his opponents- "all they can do is pick at bits of my family history". Come on, Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, pay up, pay up and redeem your name!Duncan TomsMachynlleth, Powys. The MPs spokesman said: Richard was made aware on February 5 of omissions in the Companies House filings in relation to unlimited Abbots Court Farm and Anderson Manor Farm. Drax is only the first target, he told me, evidently fired up for this great new crusade. The mausoleum was demolished in 1935 and replaced by a flat memorial stone. According to Parliament's register of interests, Drax was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment who personally derived an income from renting out property. Later, the Draxes married into the Erle family that owned Charborough Park and the sugar profits helped to greatly extend the mansion and lands back in England. The rape of female slaves was also common, punishable only by a small fine. For, around 370 years ago, he also pioneered the importation of African slaves to cultivate his lucrative crop. It sounds a comparatively modest sum, but by then their 200 years of profits had been invested in English properties and businesses. Together . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Richard Draxs income source is mostly from being a successful Politician. [1] He was educated at Harrow School before going to the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester where he graduated with a diploma in rural land management in 1990, receiving a further diploma in journalism in 1995. One of only three Jacobean mansions in the Americas, the official Barbados tourism website lists it as one of the islands seven wonders. Official sources in Bridgetown, Barbados, confirmed the MP now farms Drax Hall. But the shadow of slavery hangs over the gilded life of Richard Drax, Wealthy MP urged to pay up for his familys slave trade past. Like many of his ancestors, Drax is a Dorset MP and is probably the wealthiest landowner in the House of Commons, with 5,600 hectares of farmland and woodlands. On Friday, the MP said he does not yet legally own the Barbados holdings as these are still going through the probate process and have not yet transferred to my name. Clearly there are some glaring contradictions to all this. As a reminder of the links between Dorset and Barbados a road that bisects the Charborough estate is called Sugar Hill. The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child, Do not sell or share my personal information. The Drax family did it longer than any elite family.. ), was also an MP: for Chester 20 Feb. 1795-1826 and Stockbridge, 1826-1830. However, Cohen ignores a major Powell speech that has had a long-lasting, permanent and wholly benevolent impact. IV, p. 211. Two: show remorse and participate in reparatory justice. We revealed he is the wealthiest landowner in the Commons and worth as much as 150million through a series of trusts. Richard, who inherited the estate in 2017 on the death of his father, Walter, is the seventh family member to sit in the Commons. Some new arrivals chose to hang themselves rather than face a lifetime of servitude, believing they would be resurrected and transported back to their homelands. After 10 years as a backbencher he has become increasingly prominent among Tory rightwing Brexiters driving the governments hardline position on Europe. [31], Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 22:40, July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, "He's the MP with the Downton Abbey lifestyle. Biography. A Tory MP whose family made millions through slavery is facing calls for an investigation into his company records. Harvested sugar cane is no longer processed at the plantations but taken to a central processing plant and then refined for export. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. The fact that he was able to summon a *police helicopter* when peaceful trespassers entered his 13,000-acre estate yday shows you how landowners would use this new law . How fitting! Black life mattered only to make millionaires of English enslavers and the Drax family did it longer than any other elite family.. Brother of Henry Drax (-1790) and father of Sarah Frances Drax who married Richard Grosvenor (who became Richard Erle Drax Grosvenor [q.v.]). Copyright Legacies of British Slavery - UCL Department of History 2023. He was privately educated at Harrow School before going to the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester where he graduated with a diploma in rural land management in 1990, receiving a further diploma in journalism in 1995. Drax lives in his family's ancestral seat, Charborough House a Grade I listed manor house in rural Dorset. It gave us our parliament and law courts. Richard Drax MP was one of the first MPs to call for the criminalisation of trespass. Beckles says Richard Drax should: One: apologise to African people and the people of the Caribbean. Richard Drax is known for PMQs (2010), The Sarah-Jane Mee Show (2019) and South at Six (1961). For the Drax family see entries for Richard Erle Drax Grosvenor and John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge Erle-Drax (q.v.). Its crazy, Mr Whitehead said of the campaign. We revealed in December Mr Drax had failed to register in Members Interests a Barbados sugar plantation he ran. Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, Elsebet Drax (m. 1998), Zara Drax (m. 19851997). He then gestured towards a disused windmill made from slabs of limestone hewn from a nearby quarry. British slavery - UCL department of History 2023 Mee show ( 2019 ) and South at (... A road that bisects the Charborough estate is called sugar Hill well there. 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