During the Mau Mau insurrection in Kenya during the early 1950 the British were responsible for appalling abuses, and then covered them up for decades. Up to 100,000 people, many of whom had no connection to the revolt, were interned, and vast numbers subjected to beatings, rapes and even castrations – usually by African guards, but under direct British orders. Torture was condoned at the highest levels. Some measure of justice has finally been done and compensation offered, relatively small though it might be. (From The Times and The Guardian, June 2013)

It is healthy that a Conservative government should admit to colonialist misdeeds. I was brought up in Britain during a time when large parts of the map of the wold were colored red, and told that the empire was, by and large, a modernizing force for good. Then I was sent to Cyprus as a soldier and discovered that this was not quite true. The empire has now gone, and with it the public memory of it (it is no longer taught in most schools and kids seem to be ignorant of history in general).

Epicureans should call on all former colonial powers to examine their past histories. Some good things were done, but some appalling things as well, not only in Kenya but in India, Egypt and other places. Every nation seems to have a subset of criminal bullies. It is a good thing to own up and apologise for Britain’s imperial crimes.