Let David Lammy secure reparation demands, says Caribbean leader

Earlier in October, Mr Lammy sent a memo to diplomats at the Foreign Office which mentioned his own family’s experience of slavery as he reflected on Black History Month. The note read: “It’s a chance to celebrate the enormous contribution of black people in Britain, and also to acknowledge some of our country’s most painful history. “This is important to all of us in the FCDO. First, because of this department’s role in that history. From King Charles Street, British officials administered colonies in which millions were enslaved. “My ancestors were among them, taken from Africa across the Atlantic to labour in the Caribbean.” Mr Lammy added it was the job of the Foreign Office “to represent the UK, a nation in which black Britons make an astounding contribution in all walks of life”. Rishi Sunak’s government repeatedly rejected the case for slavery reparations but neither Sir Keir nor Mr Lammy have commented on the issue during their first three months in power. Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, is another prominent figure urging the Government to draw up a package of reparations before next week’s Chogm meeting. ’Britain owes £200 billion’ She has previously said slave-owning nations owed...