Apologising for the UK’s role in the slave trade is “not on the agenda,” Downing Street has said amid the row engulfing the Commonwealth summit.
The prime minister has called the transatlantic slave trade “abhorrent” but ruled out reparations as he said countries affected would rather the UK help them with current issues, such as the impact of climate change.
However, as the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) begins in Samoa tomorrow, Sky News has learned that Commonwealth leaders will agree plans to look at reparations for the slave trade, in defiance of Sir Keir Starmer.
Officials from some countries are drawing up an agreement to conduct further research and begin a “meaningful conversation”.
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It could leave the UK owing billions of pounds in reparations, which are usually defined as payments paid by a country for damage or losses caused to other countries or their people.
But asked again about reparations in light of the mounting pressure, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson said: “Our position on reparations is clear and remains unchanged.
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“We should be facing forward and should be focusing on working with the Commonwealth on the shared issues at the current time. Likewise, suggestions forms of reparatory justice is not something I recognise.”
Pressed again on whether an apology could be offered, the spokesperson repeated it was “not on the agenda”.
At the end of the Commonwealth summit, the 55 leaders will agree a “communique”, which explains what was discussed and summarises decisions on specific issues.
Some leaders are understood to want to include slavery reparations in the communique, with a draft version saying leaders “agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity”, according to the BBC.
Other leaders want a separate declaration demanding reparatory justice, which the UK and some countries are unlikely to sign.
This would be the worst-case scenario for the UK as leaders would have to vote on it, risking a split in the Commonwealth.
As well as payments, reparatory justice could also take the form of debt relief, an official apology, educational programmes, economic support, public health assistance and building museums.
A source told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby Sir Keir’s refusal to put reparations on the agenda has agitated some leaders and it looks like no matter what he wants, the issue will be in the final communique.
Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis has said he wants reparatory justice mentioned in the communique and will try to have a “frank” conversation with Sir Keir.
“It’s not just about an apology,” he told Politico.
“It’s not about money, it’s about an appreciation and embracing and understanding of what our ancestors went through, that has left a scourge on our race, culturally, mentally and physically.”
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He is hoping to speak directly to Sir Keir, who he called “a fair-minded just individual”, on Saturday when there will be a six-hour leaders’ retreat with no aides, leaving them to speak more freely.
The two leaders are familiar to each other, having each represented defendants in a legal case in 2003 that led to the mandatory death penalty being abolished in the Bahamas.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla are also in Samoa where the king will address the summit following a trip to Australia where they faced protests and accusations of stealing Aboriginal land and committing “genocide against our people”.
Their arrival in Samoa has been smoother, with the King being declared a “high chief” of the Pacific island and presented with a whole pig.
