BBC Presenter Gives Brexiteer Dan Hannan History Lesson Over Britain's Colonial Past

'Slaves generated gigantic profits...'
Historian and television presenter Dan Snow
Historian and television presenter Dan Snow
PA Archive/PA Images

TV historian Dan Snow has blasted a leading Brexiteer for ignoring Britain’s colonial past in a row over free trade.

Tory MEP Dan Hannan claims Britain became the “wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth” when it abolished trade tariffs in from the 1840s onwards.

In his article for the Telegraph, Hannan dismisses the suggestion that Britain’s empire-building – which saw more than 400million people under its control in the 19 century – played a significant part in its economic boom.

The Brexiteer claimed “seizing large and hot tracts of land…tended to be a net drain on the Treasury.”

Snow, who has presented TV documentaries detailing how the British Empire grew, took to Twitter to hit back at Hannan’s claims.

Uh oh. The Brexit Boffin is at it again.

We did remove trade barriers. But only after a whole bunch of other stuff....

👇 https://t.co/3jGa62Jowp

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

Britain enjoyed advantageous geography in the age of sail and coal. Vast supplies of relatively accessible bituminous, carbon packed, coal

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

A dominant position across the prevailing sou'westerly winds giving us a decisive advantage against Dutch and French fleets

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

Well placed, deep water harbours, with agricultural hinterlands. Vast supply of cheap Anglesey copper for sheathing warship hulls.

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

British government could focus extraordinary attention on the navy. European govts faced threats requiring a range of military capabilities.

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

Britain used that navy constantly to obliterate commercial and political rivals.

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

A blizzard of wars in India, the WIndies, N America & Africa to deny raw materials to opponents & seize exclusive access to markets

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

Britain evolved into a fiscal military state. Massive increases in taxation & unprecedented public borrowing paid for global warfare.

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017

Slaves generated gigantic profits. British Empire was the world's biggest sugar producer. Tariffs were a significant chunk of govt revenue

— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) October 16, 2017
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