Today is the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery Act. Slavery is far too big a subject to attempt to cover in a blog post, but I did not want to let this day pass without marking the event.Driven through the House of Commons by Tory MP William Wilberforce, the act was a huge step towards reducing the use and ownership of slaves. It did not, however, succeed in its stated aim of abolishing the international trade in humans, there are many who believe that there are just as many slaves now as at the height of the slave trade in the late 18th century.
I hope that this anniversary will act as a catalyst for a renewed attack on the international slave trade. And that the blissful ignorance and willful blindness that typified the late 1700s will not be allowed to continue today.
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The William Wilberforce Lecture by David Davis, Tuesday 17 April
25th March 2007 will mark 200 years to the day that a Parliamentary Bill was passed to abolish the slave trade. The prime mover in this was the Tory MP and Clapham resident William Wilberforce.
This parliamentary bill was the culmination of a 20 year campaign conducted from what is now the Vauxhall Constituency.
· Wilberforce and the great anti-slavery campaigners held their meetings to abolish the slave trade at Hawkstone Hall on the Kennington Road.
· Wilberforce and his fellow abolitionists in the Clapham Sect worship at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham.
· The charity Anti-Slavery international, based in Stockwell, has its roots in the first abolitionist society founded in 1787.
To mark this occasion Vauxhall Conservative Association and the Conservative History Group will be hosting The William Wilberforce Lecture given by the Rt Hon David Davis MP, Shadow Home Secretary.
The event will be held at St Paul’s Church, Rectory Grove, Clapham on 17th April. If you are interested in attending or would like to find out further information please contact: wilberforce200@vauxhallconservatives.com
James, unfortunately it's not controlled from over there now. It's controlled from over here.
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