Calls for slavery reparations will be handled ‘sensitively’, says minister

At the time, he said: “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.” When pressed on his Cabinet colleague’s comments, Mr 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, and we want to make sure that our global partners and particularly those that we have historic and cultural ties to, that we make sure that those countries benefit from the success that Britain has.” Mr Kyle added: “These are very tricky historical ties that we have which means we need to deal with them with all sensitivity. Sensitivity does not involve me as a Science Secretary discussing it openly and negotiating with you. “Those tricky diplomatic issues will be dealt with all of the tact and delicacy that is needed from the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary going forward. We will deal with these issues in a very sensitive way with them...