Overview

• The UK government has confirmed that it will not issue an apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
• Both the King and Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend the summit, with Starmer focusing on current Commonwealth challenges rather than historical issues.
• Labour MPs previously advocated for an apology and reparations, but the current government continues the previous administration's policy of non-apology.
• Caribbean nations are expected to raise the issue of reparations, with estimates for compensation ranging from £200bn to £13tn.
• The debate over Britain's historical role in slavery reflects a broader national conversation about identity and the interpretation of the country's past.