Commonwealth leaders have agreed that “the time has come” for a dialogue on slave trade reparations, although Britain wants the subject off the agenda at a two-day summit in Samoa.
A document signed by 56 heads of government, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledged calls for “a discussion of reparative justice” over the “heinous” transatlantic slave trade.
The statement said it was time for “meaningful, authentic and respectful dialogue.”
Sir Keir said money was not discussed at the meeting and the UK’s position was “very clear” that compensation would not be paid.
Britain faces growing calls from Commonwealth leaders to apologize and pay reparations for its historic role in the slave trade.
Reparations for the benefit of those who suffered as a result of slavery Can take many forms, from financial to symbolic.
Ahead of the summit, Downing Street insisted the issue would not be on the agenda.
Sir Keir told a news conference on Saturday that Commonwealth leaders had had a “positive two days” in Samoa and downplayed the importance of the reparations issue at the summit.
“The theme of these two days is resilience and climate,” he said, adding that the portion of the joint statement discussing reparations amounted to “one paragraph out of more than 20.”
“None of the discussions are about money. Our position on that is very, very clear,” he said.
Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC Britain will not pay reparations for slavery.
The announcement came after a secret meeting of leaders – where Commonwealth prime ministers and presidents meet without advisers – which lasted about six hours.
The Prime Minister said it was not discussions about reparations that had kept the war going for so long.
A Downing Street source told the BBC: “Our position has always been clear and that will not change.”
They did, and they didn’t – in fact, their direct remarks on reparations on the way to the summit angered some of the countries campaigning for it.
Half the art of diplomacy is keeping the things you want to talk about being talked about—keeping the conversation going, even if the prospect of imminent change is unlikely.
For those who believe it is time for countries like Britain to reckon with its past, the communiqué allows them to say the conversation continues.
For their part, the UK and other countries can say their position has not changed, also pointing to a range of other topics – such as trade, climate change and security – for which they believe the Commonwealth provides an important forum.
However, the Prime Minister did appear to leave the door open to further discussion of some form of compensatory justice, saying that “the next opportunity to look at this issue” will be at the UK Caribbean Forum in 2025.
