Sir Keir Starmer has rejected requires reparations for slavery, saying it might result in “very long, endless discussions” in regards to the previous.
The prime minister mentioned whereas the transatlantic slave commerce was “abhorrent”, he believes the international locations affected by it might moderately the UK assist them with up to date challenges, such because the affect of local weather change.
Talking to reporters on the aircraft to Samoa, the place he’ll attend the Commonwealth heads of presidency assembly (Chogm), Sir Keir mentioned: “On the question of which way we’re facing, I think we should be facing forward.
“I’ve talked to quite a lot of our Commonwealth colleagues within the Commonwealth household and so they’re dealing with actual challenges on issues like local weather within the right here and now.
“And in all the conversations I’ve had with them, what they’re most interested in is can we help them working with international institutions, financial institutions on the sorts of packages they need right now in relation to the challenges they’re facing right now.”
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He added: “That’s where I’m going to put my focus rather than what will end up being very long, endless discussions about reparations on the past.”
There was mounting stress from leaders of Caribbean nations for the UK to contemplate paying reparations for the affect of the transatlantic slave commerce.
The decision has additionally been echoed by some Labour backbenchers, with Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, arguing that the UK has each a “moral and legal duty to address the injustices of the past”.
She wrote on X: “Refusing to address our country’s role in enslavement and colonialism speaks volumes about the regard in which we hold people who still live with their impact.”
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King heckled by aboriginal senator
Earlier this week the prime minister’s official spokesman mentioned reparations have been “not on the agenda” on the Commonwealth summit and the federal government wouldn’t supply an apology for the slave commerce.
“The government’s position on this has not changed – we do not pay reparations,” the spokesman mentioned.
“The prime minister is attending this week’s summit to discuss shared challenges and opportunities faced by the Commonwealth, including driving growth across our economies.”
Pressed about an apology, the spokesman added: “The position on apology remains the same, we won’t be offering an apology at Chogm, but we will continue to engage with partners on the issues as we work with them to tackle the pressing challenges of today and indeed for the future generations.”
Earlier this week, the King was heckled by Australian senator Lidia Thorpe throughout his deal with to the Australian parliament on Monday.
She shouted: “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty!
“You aren’t our King, you aren’t sovereign… you’ve got dedicated genocide towards our folks.”
Sir Keir will meet the King and Queen who obtained a ceremonial welcome once they arrived in Samoa for his or her four-day state go to following their tour of Australia.
