LONDON — A group of British Labour lawmakers has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of displaying a “colonial mindset” by downplaying discussions on slavery reparations ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa. The comments come after Starmer indicated he preferred to focus on “looking forward” rather than having extended debates on the subject of reparations for transatlantic slavery.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy criticized Starmer’s remarks, describing them as “very insulting” to people of African descent. Fellow Labour MP Clive Lewis echoed her sentiment, noting it was surprising that Starmer believed he could “dictate what could and could not be discussed” on an issue central to many African and Caribbean Commonwealth nations.
Following these statements, Commonwealth leaders issued a final communiqué from the Samoa summit that acknowledged a need for reparations discussions, a move celebrated by advocates as a step toward acknowledgment and healing. Ribeiro-Addy commended the Commonwealth leaders for “refusing to be silenced” on the issue.
Starmer, who stated that slavery was “abhorrent,” later clarified that the discussions should focus on topics other than financial reparations. His stance, however, has disappointed lawmakers like Diane Abbott, Britain’s first Black woman MP, who noted that Labour once had plans for a national reparations commission. Abbott emphasized, “Reparations isn’t about the past, it’s about the here and now.”
Lawmakers advocating for reparations underscored that reparative justice could include formal apologies, debt relief, artifact restitution, and educational reform, not solely financial compensation. This debate reflects broader tensions within the Labour Party and the Commonwealth about addressing historical injustices and their lasting impact.