We can't change our history' on UK's role in slave trade, says Starmer

The UK "can't alteration our history", Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told the BBC erstwhile asked astir paying reparations to countries impacted by the transatlantic enslaved trade.

His comments travel aft diplomatic sources told the BBC that Commonwealth heads of authorities privation to commencement a "meaningful conversation" astir an contented that could mean the UK paying billions of pounds for its humanities relation successful the trade.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled retired making payments, successful an interrogation earlier connected Thursday, saying "that's not thing that this authorities is doing".

Sir Keir, who is presently successful Samoa for a gathering of Commonwealth countries, said the commercialized was "abhorrent" and that it was important to "talk astir our history".

However, helium added that the absorption should beryllium connected "today's challenges" including resilience successful the look of clime alteration and boosting commercialized betwixt Commonwealth nations.

He added helium wanted to assistance subordinate countries enactment with planetary fiscal institutions to "unlock wealth that mightiness assistance them" successful narration to clime change.

Leaders from 56 countries are attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting taking spot successful Samoa connected Friday and Saturday.

Commonwealth leaders are expected to defy the UK and statement ways of securing reparations for humanities slavery. At its height, Britain was the world's biggest slave-trading nation. Downing Street has the contented is not connected the docket for the summit.

Reparatory justness for slavery tin travel successful galore forms, including fiscal reparations, indebtedness relief, an authoritative apology, acquisition programmes, gathering museums, economical support, and nationalist wellness assistance.

In the run-up to the summit, determination person been increasing calls from Commonwealth leaders for the UK to apologise and marque reparations.

King Charles volition formally unfastened the acme and is expected to usage his opening code to wage tribute to his parent the precocious Queen Elizabeth II and her transportation to the Commonwealth.

He volition besides accidental the Commonwealth's standard and diverseness allows it to "discuss the astir challenging issues with openness and respect".

During the gathering, a caller Commonwealth caput wide volition beryllium elected. All 3 of the candidates - Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, Joshua Setipa of Lesotho and Mamadou Tangara of Gambia - backmost reparatory justice.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Frederick Mitchell, the overseas curate of the Bahamas, said helium believed the UK would alteration its stance, saying: "It whitethorn instrumentality a portion for radical to travel astir but travel astir they will."

During the interrogation with the BBC, Sir Keir was besides asked astir a ailment Donald Trump's squad has filed against the Labour Party objecting to its unit and activists volunteering for Kamala Harris's statesmanlike campaign.

"I deliberation this needs to beryllium seen for what it is," the premier curate said, adding: "It is immoderate Labour Party members and unit successful their escaped clip campaigning.

"It’s happened successful each predetermination successful antithetic parts of the world. All governmental parties bash it... I deliberation it needs to beryllium enactment successful it’s due perspective."

Sir Keir added that some helium and Trump wanted to person a "good moving relationship" and that the brace precocious had meal together.

He dismissed suggestions that his enactment were inactive adjusting to being successful government, saying helium had "absolute clarity" connected his "number 1 mission" of economical growth.

Next Wednesday Chancellor Rachel Reeves, volition acceptable retired the government's taxation and spending plans successful the Budget.

Ahead of this Reeves told the BBC she would beryllium changing the government's self-imposed indebtedness rules to escaped up wealth for infrastructure spending.

Asked astir the Budget, Sir Keir said the system hardly grew nether the Conservatives and that helium wanted to "clear the decks" and "clear up the mess".

"I judge successful moving towards problems. If you cognize what the occupation is, what the situation is, each concern knows this, each household knows it, tally towards it and hole it."

The Conservatives person challenged Labour's statement that they created a £22bn achromatic hole successful the system and questioned the chancellor's determination to alteration the indebtedness rules.

The party's shadiness Treasury curate Gareth Davies said "uncertainty implicit further borrowing risks involvement rates staying higher and for longer.

"It's families up and down the state who would wage the price.”