Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls for reparations by insisting the UK is “looking forward rather than looking backwards”. The Prime Minister will make history tomorrow when he becomes the first UK leader to visit a Pacific Island nation. He attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa alongside The King.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to focus on the future of the Commonwealth, after ruling out compensation for the UK's historical role in the slave trade. All three candidates to become the next head of the 56-nation organisation have called for reparations for countries that were affected by slavery.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing demands for talks on reparatory justice over slavery and the UK’s colonial past ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

No 10 says reparations are ‘not on the agenda’ for the PM as he arrives in Samoa for a major Commonwealth meeting

The PM is facing calls to pay reparations for the UK’s role in the slave trade as he heads to a meeting of Commonwealth leaders. | ITV National News

The Prime Minister said he believes the Commonwealth should instead be ‘facing forward’ together on current day issues like climate change.

Demands for reparation would cause “endless” rows with Britain, Sir Keir Starmer has warned Commonwealth leaders ahead of a summit showdown. The Prime Minister said he was not willing to consider calls from some nations for the UK to make multi-trillion pound payouts over slavery and climate change.

The Prime Minister said he would rather work with countries affected by slavery on 'future facing challenges', rather than 'spend a lot of time on the past'.