Keir Starmer rules out slavery reparations ahead of Commonwealth summit

14 October 2024, 15:24

Keir Starmer has ruled out slavery reparations
Keir Starmer has ruled out slavery reparations. Picture: Getty

By Henry Moore

The Prime Minister has slapped down suggestions that Britain should pay reparations to Caribbean nations for its role in the Atlantic slave trade.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Reparations are “not on the agenda”, Downing Street said on Monday ahead of a major Commonwealth summit later this month.

Asked what the Prime Minister's view on paying reparations is, his official spokesman said on Monday: “Just to be clear, reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting.

“Technically, the Government's position on this has not changed. We do not pay reparations.

Read more: David Lammy meets with EU counterparts in bid to 'reset' relations following Brexit

“The Prime Minister is attending the summit to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities faced by the Commonwealth, including driving growth across our economies.”

Nick debates with slavery researcher over calls for the UK to pay £200bn in slave trade reparations

The three candidates vying to be named the next secretary-general of the 56-nation Commonwealth have signalled support for reparations.

The leadership vote between Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, Joshua Setipa of Lesotho and Mamadou Tangara of Gambia will take place at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) from October 21.

Questions surrounding Britain’s role in the slave trade, which saw more than 15 million people trafficked over the course of 400 years, resurfaced after footage emerged of Foreign Secretary David Lammy calling for the country to pay reparations.

"I'm afraid as Caribbean people we are not going to forget our history - we don't just want to hear an apology, we want reparation," Mr Lammy can be heard saying in the clip from 2018.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle defended his Cabinet colleague against questions about the apparent inconsistency of his remarks, telling LBC: "That was David Lammy long before he became Foreign Secretary.

Lammy hails ‘historic moment’ ahead of talks on UK-EU security co-operation

"Now he speaks on behalf of the Labour Government and this is a new Labour Government."

"We are focused on the future and when we move forward as a country we are thinking globally as well."

Labour's policy is in line with the previous Conservative government, who vehemently rejected calls for Britain to pay for its role in slavery.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

President Trump Hosts Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba At The White House

Donald Trump slams brakes on some China tariffs in third trade war U-turn

2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Roaming Arrivals

Calls for Kanye West to be removed from X after 'antisemitic rampage' online

Netlifx has hiked its subscription prices without adverts by £2, or 18%, to £12.99 a month for British users.

Netflix hikes prices for Brits after hitting record subscription figures

EL SALVADOR-RELIGION-WELBY

Justin Welby to live at Lambeth Palace despite quitting as archbishop after damning report into Church safeguarding failures

Retired PC Tim Bradshaw (left) and Andrew Newman, deputy chair of Sussex Police Federation, outside Portsmouth Crown Court

Retired police officer found not guilty after knocking two men off electric motorbike in order to 'protect life'

Detective Sergeant Richard Mills, aged 42, of Rochdale was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court

Police detective jailed for 18 months after two sexual assaults on colleagues in workplace

A music teacher who appeared on a hit Channel 4 show has been accused of sexual assault and making indecent images of children.

Music teacher who appeared in hit Channel 4 show charged with making indecent images of children

Exclusive
A former prisoner who was pregnant while behind bars has called for childbearing women to get more support from the justice system.

‘I cried myself to sleep, covered in blood’: Former prisoner who was pregnant while jailed calls for justice system overhaul

Six-month old Sophia Kelemen was killed by a driverless car in a horror accident on January 2.

Baby girl dies in horror accident after driverless car smashes into pram on family holiday

Mohamed Al-Fayed's brother has denied sexual assault allegations brought forward by three former Harrods employees.

Mohamed Al Fayed's brother 'unequivocally' denies sexual assault allegations by three former Harrods employees

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kanye West declares he’s a ‘Nazi,’ ‘loves Hitler’ and that he has ‘dominion’ over Bianca Censori in vile rant

A British man found dead with his wife inside their isolated French villa

British couple found dead in French villa named as fears former organised crime financial investigator was 'murdered'

TV chef Gino D'Acampo’s ITV shows have been pulled from schedules

Gino D’Acampo TV shows pulled from schedules amid investigation into ‘sexually inappropriate’ comments

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as Labour has been accused of adding unnecessary costs on consumers

Fears more costs will pass to consumers as yet more taxes from Labour announced

A second woman, suspected of using wigs to disguise herself to sit the British citizenship test for other people, has been arrested.

Second woman arrested after wearing wigs to 'fake UK citizenship tests' as immigration officers find disguises and designer bags in raid

Charlie Roberts (l) was in the care of his mum's partner Christopher Stockton (r) when he suffered the fatal injury

Stepdad who shook baby to death then tried to blame biscuit jailed for life