Sir Keir Starmer remains opposed to issuing an apology for the UK’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, according to Downing Street. Talks of reparations are also “not on the agenda” for this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).
Pressure from Caribbean Nations
The Prime Minister will attend the biennial Commonwealth summit in Samoa, where Caribbean leaders are urging for reparations for the historical impact of slavery. However, the UK government has made it clear that this issue will not be up for discussion during the summit.
Labour MPs have also called on Starmer to address the issue of reparations, hoping the Prime Minister will acknowledge the UK’s involvement in slavery during the summit.
No Reparations in Sight
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed that reparations will not be a part of the discussions at Chogm.
“Reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting,” the spokesman stated. “The government’s position remains unchanged: we do not pay reparations. The Prime Minister will focus on discussing shared challenges and opportunities faced by the Commonwealth, including driving economic growth.”
Refusal to Apologise
When asked if Starmer would apologise for the UK’s role in the slave trade, the spokesperson reiterated the government’s position. “We won’t be offering an apology at Chogm, but we will continue engaging with our partners on today’s pressing challenges as we work together for future generations.”
Labour MPs Call for Action
Five Labour backbenchers have urged Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy to raise the issue of reparations while in Samoa. These MPs include Clive Lewis, Nadia Whittome, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Marsha de Cordova, and former minister Dawn Butler.
Foreign Secretary Lammy, who previously supported the case for reparations as a backbench MP, has not publicly commented on the matter during this trip.
Commonwealth Leadership and Anti-Colonial Protests
Meanwhile, the three candidates running to be the next secretary-general of the Commonwealth—Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, Joshua Setipa of Lesotho, and Mamadou Tangara of Gambia—have all supported the idea of reparations. The winner will replace the UK’s Patricia Scotland as the head of the 56-nation association.
The summit will also be attended by King Charles, head of the Commonwealth, following his tour in Australia, where he faced anti-colonial protests. Australian senator Lidia Thorpe, a vocal advocate for First Nations rights, interrupted Charles’ speech in Canberra, shouting, “You are not my king.”
Notably, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will not attend the summit, choosing instead to prioritize the BRICS summit in Russia, alongside leaders from Brazil, China, and other major developing nations.
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