Britain loses reparations battle as Commonwealth leaders formally demand justice in slave trade

Britain has lost a key battle for compensation while Commonwealth leaders used the group’s summit in Samoa to demand talks on compensation.

The call for “debates” was included in the meeting’s final communiqué despite a 48-hour back-and-forth by UK negotiators.

This is a blow to Sir Keir Starmer, who immediately He ruled out paying any type of cash compensation for Britain’s role in the slave trade.

The statement, signed by all 56 Commonwealth nations, noted “calls for debates on restorative justice with respect to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel slavery.”

It recognized “the importance of this issue to Commonwealth member states, most of whom share common historical experiences in relation to this abhorrent trade.”

According to the statement, Member States agreed that “the time has come to engage in a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation to forge a common future based on equity.”

Minutes before the release of the statement, the Prime Minister admitted defeat at a press conference before departing Samoa.

Asked whether he had damaged his relations with Commonwealth nations in his attempt to take a hard line on the issue, the Prime Minister repeated that the slave trade was “abhorrent” but said: “In reality, we have had two very positive days here in Samoa.”

He downplayed prominence of repairs on the summit agenda, saying: “The topic of the day was chosen by the Prime Minister here in Samoa, and she chose resilience and climate.

“So I think that gives a clear idea of ​​the absolute priority here, and that’s not surprising.”

‘Our position is very clear’

And he added: “I must be very clear: in the two days we have been here, none of the discussions have been about money. Our position is very, very clear on this.”

Sir Keir said the “next opportunity” to discuss the issue, as Commonwealth leaders demanded, would be at a UK-Caribbean forum next year.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary who previously supported the idea of ​​paying reparationswill represent Great Britain at that meeting.

The dispute over reparations has dominated the Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Samoa.

A group of Caribbean nations have used the Commonwealth summit to demand that it reverse the Government’s current stance and accept compensation.

Sir Keir has refused to do so, but has opened the door to helping those nations seeking reparations get cheaper finance to tackle climate change.

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