British Empire

This beyond all doubt was the largest empire ever seen, bigger than that or Rome or even Alexander the Great. As such, it has come in for a lot of criticism and it is true that a lot of nasty things were done in our empire. I don't apologise for that. Times and social values were different when the empire was created and who is to say that the colonial countries would have behaved differently if they had been colonial powers? You wouldn't want Robert Mugabe to be the Emperor of Europe would you?

'Ah,' I hear you say, 'but we never had any colonial aspirations.' Really? Are you telling me that given half a chance you would not have knocked seven bells out of the neighbouring tribe or country? Given the history of conflict over the past centuries, then of course you would. It still happens to this day.

And if the British Empire was really so very very bad, why is it that its political ideals - democracy, free press etc. - are still held in high esteem today? Even the worst dictator still pretends that things are democratic. The USA kicked us into touch in 1776 but they still hold many of our values dear, as does Canada,Australia, India and many, many smaller places.

But was there ever a British Empire? I am biased here for I really believe it was an English Empire. Yes the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish were drafted in to support the expansion but it was led, largely, by the English.

Next point. For most colonies it's been about 60/70 years since they were given independence and what's happened since? India has moved on and Canada/Australia/USA have done so too but they became independent earlier. South Africa seems to progress in fits and starts.The majority of the rest have not moved at all or even gone backwards. Despite this, British colonialism continues to be blamed for the woes of today. Yes indeed we could and should have done more but that's no excuse for the state of many countries today.

Well, let's just think about the state of things before Britain arrived. People wandering around with tea towels over their genitals, holding spears, fighting and earning a subsistence living. (India was different.) Our main fault is that we hardly improved on that.