Commonwealth leaders have agreed the “time has come” for a conversation about reparations for the slave trade, despite the UK’s desire to keep the subject off the agenda at a two-day summit in Samoa.
A document signed by 56 heads of government, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledges calls for “discussions on reparatory justice” for the “abhorrent” transatlantic slave trade.
The statement says it is time for a “meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation”.
Sir Keir said there had been no discussions about money at the meeting, and that the UK is “very clear” in its position that it would not pay reparations.
The UK has faced growing calls from Commonwealth leaders to apologise and pay reparations for the country’s historical role in the slave trade.
Reparations for the benefit of those who suffered as a result of slavery could take many forms, from financial to symbolic.
Ahead of the summit, Downing Street had insisted the issue would not be on the agenda.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Sir Keir said Commonwealth leaders had a “positive two days” in Samoa and downplayed the prominence of reparations at the summit.
“The dominant theme of the two days has been resilience and climate,” he said, adding that the section of the joint statement discussing reparations amounts to “one paragraph in 20-something paragraphs”.
“None of the discussions have been about money. Our position is very, very clear in relation to that,” he said.
Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC: “We’re not going to be paying out the reparations that some countries are speaking about.”
However, the prime minister did appear to leave the door open for further discussions about some form of reparatory justice, saying the “next opportunity to look at this” would be at the UK-Caribbean forum in 2025.
