The Commonwealth summit that could put reparations ‘on the table’

Good morning.

Delegates from 56 countries convened at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Samoa this week. The biennial event has been dominated by the issue of reparations, with Caribbean leaders drawing up an agreement that would demand billions from the UK.

That is not something the UK government is keen on. Keir Starmer fought, unsuccessfully, to keep reparations off the agenda of this summit, though he has accepted that the issue is likely to be mentioned in the communique that will be published at its conclusion. And following in the footsteps of previous governments, Downing Street also ruled out a symbolic apology for slavery.

Representatives of various Caribbean countries have continued to push for a “frank” conversations about transatlantic slavery and the “horrendous impact” it had on the African diaspora. The prime minister does appear moved by the pressure, as he pivoted slightly, saying that he is “open to discussing non-cash forms of reparatory justice for slavery”.

For today’s newsletter I spoke with the Guardian’s Caribbean correspondent, Natricia Duncan, about the case being made for reparations. That’s right after the headlines.

Five big stories

In depth: ‘Caribbean states say this isn’t in the past – it is something still having an impact’

Large intergovernmental events like Chogm are often cast as symbolically important affairs that have little impact on the real world, especially given that this year leaders like India’s Narendra Modi and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa have instead chosen to attend a Brics summit in Moscow hosted by Vladimir Putin. But the Commonwealth summit is not just a place for world leaders to talk shop once every two years – it can provide an important space to shift frameworks and shape policy. During the campaign to end apartheid, South Africa was expelled from the Commonwealth, which spurred on further punitive measures to pressure the country into dismantling its racist system of segregation.

“Although there is no legally binding element of the communique, it does have a significant impact on advocacy for moving discussions forward on subjects like reparations. And that’s why countries, particularly those in the Caribbean, view this as a really important opportunity to bring the issue of reparations to the table, in the same way that apartheid and climate action were made part of the Commonwealth agenda,” Natricia says.

The summit is also a space where smaller countries that are often ignored or sidelined in other international events can speak for themselves, as each country has to accept the wording of the final communique. “The summit prides itself in being this space where everybody has an equal voice and has a a place at the table,” she adds.

What reparatory justice might look like

Estimates for how much Britain owes in reparations range from £200bn to £18tn. Starmer continues to bat away the idea of a monetary payout, but a Downing Street source has reportedly suggested that the government could support other reparatory measures like restructuring financial institutions and providing debt relief.

Caricom, a political and economic bloc of 21 states across the Caribbean and Americas, has long had a 10-point plan for reparatory justice that includes, but is not limited to: a full formal apology; illiteracy eradication; alleviation of public health crises; debt cancellation; and technology transfer. The prime minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, has said: “For me, I don’t know that money, in and of itself, could adequately compensate for the wrongs of the past. The ghost that haunts us today cannot be, in my view, dispelled by a monetary gift.”

A draft version of the final communique reported by the BBC this week stated that leaders “agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity”.

The response from the summit

There has been consternation among Caribbean leaders who were expecting a more open-minded approach from Britain’s recently elected Labour government. The fact the that foreign secretary, David Lammy, has in the past spoken in favour of reparations gave those nations hope there would be a shift in tone from the new administration. In 2018, Lammy wrote on Twitter that Caribbean people who were enslaved, colonised and invited to Britain as citizens do not just want an apology, but “we want reparations and compensation”. But there is no trace of this position among government ministers. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, doubled down yesterday, saying an interview: “Look, I mean, we’re not going to be paying out the reparations that some countries are speaking about.”

There was an expectation that the UK “would be more willing to move forward with the issue of reparations”, Natricia says. Starmer asserted that he does not want to get stuck in a “very long endless discussion about reparations on the past” and instead wishes to look forward and deal with current issues affecting the countries attending the summit, like the climate crisis, which is hitting countries in the global south, particularly smaller and island states, the hardest. But there is no way to separate these issues in the eyes of many of these states. The argument for reparations and reparatory justice is about tending to the enduring scars of transatlantic slavery on the social, economic and psychological outcomes of the region. “Caribbean states are saying that this is not an issue that’s in the past, it is something that is still having an impact on us,” Natricia adds.

Leaders will be heading to a retreat as part of the summit, where they will talk behind closed doors about the knottiest and most challenging issues of the summit, including reparations, away from the glare of the media.

There is no way to know what will be said or the conclusions that will come out of these discussions, but it is clear that the initial offhand dismissal from the UK has not slowed down the movement. The Bahamas’ foreign minister, Frederick Mitchell, told the BBC that it was “only a matter of time” before Starmer “changes” his position on reparations. “Caribbean governments are very clear,” says Natricia. “They are going to be stepping up this campaign. They feel that they have a legal and moral justification to do so.”

What else we’ve been reading

• As pubs and music venues increasingly shut their doors, performers are finding new ways to showcase their talent, and in this case it’s by taking their music to the streets. In this great piece, Larne Bakare talks to the DJs building fanbases by livestreaming performances in public spaces, from tube stations to traffic islands. Olivia Lee, newsletters team

• As someone who was raised on Horrible Histories, I am so glad to see that it is finally being given a Bafta. Michael Hogan sourced 15 of the best moments of one of the most enduring children’s television shows of the past two decades. Nimo

• It turns out that UK mobile users have the worst average 5G download speeds of all G7 countries. I enjoyed reading Chris Stokel-Walker on why Britain’s mobile phone coverage is so “decidedly crap.” Olivia

• The uncommitted vote in Michigan shocked the Democrats earlier this year but it was not enough to meaningfully change their foreign policy stance on Gaza. Mona Mawari writes that this will cost them on polling day, which is less than two weeks away. Nimo

• In this article we find out how Ghanaian artist Michael Bleblo, who was expected to join the military, was instead given a chance to follow his passion. His work was recently showcased at the 1-54 contemporary African art fair at Somerset House. Olivia

Sport

Football | Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce in Istanbul as José Mourinho took the spotlight by being sent off. Here’s a roundup of Europa League action. Chelsea eased to a commanding 4-1 win against Panathinaikos as João Félix scored twice to maintain their perfect start in the Conference League.

Cricket | Jamie Smith hit 89 as England were bowled out for 267 on the opening day in Rawalpindi but three late wickets kept the tourists in the game. Third Test, day one: England 267; Pakistan 73-3

Running | The Belgian ultrarunners Merijn Geerts, Ivo Steyaert and Frank Gielen set a Backyard Ultra ultramarathon world record in the early hours of Thursday by running nearly 738km in four days and 14 hours in Retie, Belgium.

The front pages

“PM rules out payments but could back non-cash slavery reparations” says the Guardian this morning. The Financial Times has “Reeves to rewrite fiscal rules for extra £20bn of investment in public sector” while the Telegraph reports “Reeves warned over £50bn ‘debt fiddle’”. “Labour’s budget ploy will ‘punish’ mortgage holders” – that’s the Daily Mail and the Times says “Reeves ‘risks hurting pensioners’”. “Help make Florrie’s dream come true” – the Mirror promotes a cancer charity. “‘Disgraceful’ online poppy appeal rip-off” – that’s the Express on the trail of a scheme. Top story in the i is “Revealed: mental health therapists caught having sex with patients – but carry on working”. The Metro covers shoplifting: “£1.8 billion cost of thieving crisis”. Oh, cost of thieving, cost of living – we see what they did there.

Something for the weekend

Our critics’ roundup of the best things to watch, read and listen to right now

Music
Amyl and the Sniffers: Cartoon Darkness | ★★★★☆
Cartoon Darkness initially presents itself as business as usual for the band. The front cover features a blurred photo of Taylor flashing her breasts while sticking her tongue out, the rest of the Sniffers looking, as ever, like a stylist’s nightmare of mullets and sliders teamed with white socks. Yet underneath the brash surface of Jerkin’, it’s clear that something, or rather some things, have changed as a result of their burgeoning success. The lyrics prickle at criticism, throwing the band’s fame at their “loser” detractors in the manner of a rapper: with its litany of slang terms for Australian cities – “Brizzie”, “Tassie” – the similarly themed U Should Not Be Doing That takes aim at self-appointed punk gatekeepers and sexists. Alexis Petridis

TV
Doctor Odyssey | ★★★★★
It’s Rivals at sea! It’s House on a boat – it’s Houseboat! Which is to say it’s Doctor Odyssey, the latest truly bananas offering from Ryan Murphy. It’s so bad and so fun. I commend it to you utterly and must equally advise against squandering a minute of your precious time on Earth watching it. At the centre of everything, it has Joshua Jackson (above) performing some kind of miracle; playing his part in absolute good faith, pitching it perfectly no matter what new narrative or tonal bonkersness is unfolding round him, grounding it somehow, and yet transcending it at the same time. It is a wondrous thing. Lucy Mangan

Film
The Room Next Door | ★★★★☆
The Room Next Door is very Almodóvarian: a dreamlike curation of people and places which is not entirely realistic, a place warm enough to sunbathe outdoors and yet at other times (perhaps even simultaneously) cold enough for snow and invocations of the last lines in James Joyce’s story The Dead. As for the timely issue of assisted dying, the characters’ obvious wealth is a palliative not available to all, but the ideas are fiercely and absorbingly invoked. Saying goodbye is what we will all have to do someday. We have to prepare. Peter Bradshaw

Podcast
My So-Called Midlife
“You’ve read All Fours, right?” asks Reshma Saujani as she introduces her podcast. “Where’s my hotel room?” If that doesn’t get her target audience nodding along, the wisdom of her first guest will. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is as fabulous as ever, talking about midlife ups and downs, including the joy of posing naked for Rolling Stone. Hannah Verdier

Today in Focus

Cartoon of the day | Ben Jennings

The Upside

A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad

Inhabitants of Rum, Scotland, where light pollution is almost nonexistent, get to experience some of the best night skies in the world. In this piece, Stuart Kenny reflects on his experience stargazing in the Hebridean island that was recently awarded International Dark Sanctuary Status.

He caught a cloudy night – the bane of stargazers – but in moments when the sky cleared and the breeze softened, he watched a sea of sparkling stars illuminate the darkness. There are challenges living on this small island, but the perks are something wondrous. “You can see the milky way while walking your dog,” Kenny writes. “Children gaze at shooting stars while their parents carry them home from lively ceilidhs at the village hall. And sometimes you might spy the aurora reflecting off the water.”

Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday

Bored at work?

And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until Monday.

• Quick crossword

• Cryptic crossword

• Wordiply