Oct 14, 2024 Story by: Editor
The Prime Minister has firmly rejected the notion of Britain paying reparations to Caribbean nations for its involvement in the Atlantic slave trade. Ahead of an important Commonwealth summit later this month, Downing Street stated on Monday that reparations are “not on the agenda.”
When asked about the Prime Minister’s stance on reparations, his official spokesperson clarified, “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. The Prime Minister is attending the summit to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities faced by the Commonwealth, including driving growth across our economies.”
Despite the government’s position, the three candidates for the next Commonwealth Secretary-General—Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, Joshua Setipa of Lesotho, and Mamadou Tangara of Gambia—have all indicated support for reparations. The leadership vote will take place at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) on October 21.
The issue of Britain’s role in the slave trade, which saw more than 15 million people trafficked over 400 years, has resurfaced after footage emerged of Foreign Secretary David Lammy advocating for reparations. In a clip from 2018, Lammy is heard saying, “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.”
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle defended Lammy against accusations of inconsistency, noting that the remarks were made before he became Foreign Secretary. Speaking to LBC, Kyle said, “That was David Lammy long before he became Foreign Secretary. 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 current stance on reparations aligns with that of the previous Conservative government, which also rejected calls for Britain to pay for its role in slavery. Source: IBC
