Britain will be forced into having talks about reparations for slavery next year but will not hand over money, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The UK failed to keep language on damages for the historical issue out of a document signed by Commonwealth leaders in Samoa.
The Prime Minister had initially said compensation was not on his agenda for the conference but the final communique by government heads said the leaders “agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity”.
In the run-up to this year’s summit, there have been growing calls for the UK to apologise and make reparations worth trillions of pounds for the country’s historic role in the slave trade.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the Prime Minister claimed “none of the discussions have been about money”.
Reparatory justice for slavery can come in many forms, including financial reparations, debt relief, an official apology, educational programmes, building museums, economic support and public health assistance.
Sir Keir downplayed the prominence of reparations on the summit’s agenda, saying: “The theme of the day was chosen by the prime minister here in Samoa, and she chose resilience and climate.
“So I think that gives you a clear sense of the absolute priority here, and that’s not surprising.”
He added: “I should be really clear here, in the two days we’ve been here, none of the discussions have been about money. Our position is very, very clear in relation to that.”
Asked whether he had damaged his relations with Commonwealth nations in his attempt to take a hard line on the issue, and lost the battle after the final document made explicit mention of reparatory justice, the Prime Minister repeated that the slave trade was “abhorrent” but said “we’ve actually had a very positive two days here in Samoa”.
Bahamas’ Prime Minister Philip Davis had said he would seek a “frank” conversation with Sir Keir on reparatory justice for the slave trade at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Speaking during CHOGM, he said: “Let’s have a conversation about this. We all appreciate this, the horrendous impact that the Transatlantic slave business had on the African diaspora and it requires justice.
“It’s not just about an apology. It’s not about money. It’s about an appreciation and embracing and understanding of what our ancestors went through, that has left a scourge on our race, culturally, mentally and physically.”
The UK’s position on reparations has been not to make an official apology or pay compensation.
A report published last year by the University of West Indies concluded the UK owed more than £18tn in reparations for its role in slavery in 14 Caribbean countries.
The communique said: “Heads, noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice with regard to the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement and recognising the importance of this matter to member states of the Commonwealth, the majority of which share common historical experiences in relation to this abhorrent trade, chattel enslavement, the debilitation and dispossession of Indigenous People, indentureship, colonialism, blackbirding and their enduring effects, agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.
“Heads further agreed to continue playing an active role in bringing about such inclusive conversations addressing these harms, paying special attention to women and girls, who suffered disproportionately from these appalling tragedies in the history of humanity.”
