UK opposed slavery reparations on Commonwealth summit agenda, Caribbean figure says

Summary

According to The Guardian, British officials insisted that slavery reparations should not be on the agenda of the Commonwealth leaders' summit in Antigua and Barbuda, and warned that Andy Burnham would not attend if the subject were formally included. The claims come from Ralph Gonsalves, a former prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines and a senior figure in the Repair Campaign. Gonsalves welcomed the UK's decision to enter structured dialogue on reparatory justice, but said the UK had come 'kicking and screaming' to the conversation. The UK has now agreed to that dialogue, but the issue remains off the formal summit agenda.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   1 Nov 2026, 22:26 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that British officials initially insisted slavery reparations not be on the agenda of the Commonwealth leaders' summit in Antigua and Barbuda, and warned Andy Burnham would not attend if the subject were formally included, according to a leading Caribbean political figure.