Slavery reparations not on agenda, says Starmer

DOWNING STREET has said slavery reparations is “not on the agenda” ahead of a meeting with Caribbean leaders. Several Caribbean governments wanted to discuss reparations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held next week in Samoa. Sir Hilary Beckles, chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, has said the region need a summit with European nations to develop of “reparatory justice model.” But the idea of discussing reparations has been rejected by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Asked about paying reparations for Britain’s role in slavery, spokesman for the Prime Minister, said on Monday: “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.’ Beckles also expressed the UK’s Labour government – with David Lammy as new foreign secretary – would support reparations talks but questions Lammy’s ability to push the issue forward. “(Lammy) has been a supporter of the (reparations) discourse while he was in opposition,” Beckles said. “The question is whether...