UK was ‘vehement’ slavery reparations should not be on Commonwealth summit agenda

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British officials initially opposed putting slavery reparations on the Commonwealth summit agenda and reportedly warned that Andy Burnham might not attend if the issue was formally included. Former St Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister Ralph Gonsalves welcomed the UK’s agreement to structured dialogue, while criticizing its reluctance.

British prime minister has now agreed to structured dialogue on reparatory justice but issue remains off formal Chogm agenda British officials initially insisted that discussions of reparations for slavery should not be on the agenda of the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Antigua and Barbuda – and even warned that Andy Burnham would not attend the meeting if the subject was formally included, according to a leading Caribbean political figure. Ralph Gonsalves, a former prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines and a senior figure in the reparatory justice movement Repair Campaign, welcomed Britain’s decision to enter structured dialogue on reparations, but said the UK had come “kicking and screaming” to the conversation. Continue reading...