Commonwealth leaders to agree to look at slave trade reparations in defiance of Sir Keir Starmer

Commonwealth leaders will agree plans to look at reparations for the slave trade, in defiance of Sir Keir Starmer. The UK prime minister called the transatlantic slave trade “abhorrent” but ruled out reparations as he said countries affected would rather the UK help them with current issues, such as the impact of climate change. His spokesman earlier this week said: “The government’s position on this has not changed – we do not pay reparations.” However, as the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) begins in Samoa tomorrow, Sky News has learned officials from some countries are drawing up an agreement to conduct further research and begin a “meaningful conversation”. It could leave the UK owing billions of pounds in reparations, which are usually defined as payments paid by a country for damage or losses caused to other countries or their people. Politics latest: Disposable vapes to be banned next year At the end of the summit, the 55 leaders will agree a “communique”, which explains what was discussed and summarises decisions on specific issues. More on Commonwealth Related Topics: Some leaders are understood to want to include slavery reparations in the communique, with a draft version saying leaders “agreed...