Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls for slavery reparations discussions, saying his priority remains the future of the Commonwealth rather than dealing with issues that took place centuries ago. The comments come after all three candidates to replace Patricia Scotland and lead the 56-nation Commonwealth bloc advocated for reparations for countries affected by the slave trade.
A bloc of Caribbean nations has indicated it intends to lobby for reparations to be included on the agenda at the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Samoa this week. However, Starmer has slammed shut a door that has long been open: he insisted the UK would not pay compensation for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The UK Prime Minister said he wanted to focus on “current, future-facing challenges” rather than spend his time dwelling on historical grievances. Downing Street made clear that neither an apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade nor reparations would be on the summit’s agenda.
Speaking on his way to Samoa, Starmer acknowledged the horror of slavery as “abhorrent.” But he emphasized that focus should be on today’s problems in Commonwealth countries and not on having long, endless discussions over reparations for something happening centuries ago.
“This is really about looking forward rather than backward,” said Starmer, suggesting that Commonwealth nations care less for debating reparations over climate finance, which all nations must share their burden for.
That is not the first call for reparations. Last year, the former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had also refused the demand when he said going back in history would not be a fruitful way forward.
The Legacy of Slavery and the Call for Reparatory Justice
The Atlantic slave trade lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, during which time millions of Africans were rounded up as slaves, though largely on plantations in the Caribbean and in the Americas. Britain, along with many other European nations, has had a contributory role in this trade. Although the UK was at the forefront of the abolition of the slave trade with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, the voices calling for reparations have remained loud.
Reparations are generally held to be some kind of compensation for historical wrongs. They can take many forms, but commonly involve some form of monetary compensation. Caribbean leaders, including those within the association of 15 Caribbean countries known as Caricom, have been pushing for financial recognition of the long-term impact of slavery. Campaigners and academics have made various estimates of what potential compensation might be in the trillions from £205 billion to £19 trillion.
The Caricom reparations commission has been strident in its call for “reparatory justice.” In 2014, the commission issued a set of demands, including European contributions to health and education programmes in the region and cancellation of some national debt.
It comes at a time the Commonwealth summit will take place, with five Labour MPs calling for the matter of slavery reparations to be included. “This is wrong,” said MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, clearly stating her stance on the manner in which such an exclusion from the agenda is met.
