Not apologising for the slave commerce “shows an absolute lack of respect” and there ought to “at the very least” be discussions about reparations, in line with a senior Labour MP.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy stated the federal government was doubtless refusing to express regret as a result of it feared it could make them accountable for compensation – one thing Sir Keir Starmer has dominated out.
Though no sum of money can “fully reconcile for the horrors of enslavement and colonialism”, she stated “we do have to do things to try and move forward”.
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“If we consider these countries our equals, we would apologise to them.”
Downing Road stated on Thursday that an apology for the UK’s position within the transatlantic slave commerce was “not on the agenda”.
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King addresses Commonwealth’s ‘painful’ previous
The row has resurfaced on the Commonwealth summit being held in Samoa, the place the King and the prime minister are in attendance.
Sir Keir has known as the transatlantic slave commerce “abhorrent” however dominated out reparations as he stated nations affected would relatively the UK assist them with present points, such because the impression of local weather change.
Ms Ribeiro-Addy, chair of the All-Social gathering Parliamentary Group on Afrikan Reparations, stated “at the very least we should be having a discussion” about compensation and that not keen to entertain it “may come across as quite disrespectful”.
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She stated most nations calling for reparations “are unable to meet today’s challenges when we haven’t completely addressed what’s happened in the past”.
“We have to understand that these particular circumstances of human history have held these nations back and all they’re trying to do is get on an equal footing,” she stated.
She added that monetary payouts “are not the only way to make reparations”, saying many nations impacted do not have the identical entry to monetary credit score in the best way the UK does, or honest commerce offers.
Sir Keir’s place was additionally criticised by Labour grandee Harriet Harman, who stated he must have some cultural respect.
Reparations are often outlined as funds made by a rustic for harm or losses brought about to different nations or their individuals.
There are numerous estimates for what the UK would owe, however final yr a report co-authored by a United Nations choose concluded the UK owed greater than £18tn to 14 nations.
