Andy Burnham will set out plans for a “debt reset” aimed at helping Commonwealth countries grappling with repayments, as he promises Britain will play a leading role in a “new era” for the group of nations.
asserted
Britain → set → nations
Speaking at the leaders’ summit taking place in the Caribbean on Tuesday, the Prime Minister will argue work to support member states amid rising global interest rate costs must include non-G7 donors and the private sector.
asserted
work → speak → donors
Over the coming days, he will begin discussions with other leaders about the prospect of offering a formal apology for the UK’s role in the slave trade, after opening the door to a “structured dialogue” about its legacy.
asserted
he → come → legacy
The Prime Minister also wants to look at ways of helping poorer countries repay debt over a longer period and with better interest rates, which Downing Street said he would outline on Tuesday.
asserted
he → want → Tuesday
The UK will also allocate £40 million over three years from within existing budgets to speed up critical infrastructure investment including green energy in the Caribbean, No 10 said.
asserted
No → allocate → Caribbean
But in keeping with his predecessors, Mr Burnham ruled out offering direct financial reparations, ahead of his attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where talks about the issue of slavery are likely to dominate.
asserted
talks → keep → slavery
After a previous summit in 2024 saw Downing Street insist financial compensation was not on the agenda, before all 56 nations signed a communique backing talks over reparatory justice, Mr Burnham said the UK was pursuing a “new approach”.
asserted
UK → see → approach
As part of this, No 10 said Britain would lead two new taskforces – one focused on critical mineral assets and vulnerabilities in supply chains across the Commonwealth and the other aimed at boosting trade and investment more widely.
asserted
other → say → trade
Both will be set up by the end of the year and report back at the next leaders’ summit, officials said.
asserted
officials → set → summit
Downing Street said Mr Burnham would use the summit to “outline his vision for supporting countries grappling with higher debt costs”.
asserted
Burnham → say → costs
Britain will play its “full part” in shaping the Commonwealth as a “powerful force for good” in a more divided and unpredictable world, he said, as he arrived in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday.
asserted
he → play → Monday
The Prime Minister said: “In today’s more divided, unpredictable world, the Commonwealth has the potential to be a powerful force for good, bringing together a third of the global population, and I believe it is key that the UK plays its full role in that.
asserted
UK → say → that
Read More
“Britain is bringing a new approach to this meeting, as we look to reshape a new era for the Commonwealth, as well as being open to discussions about the past.
asserted
we → read → past
“From trade to defence and security, together Commonwealth members can drive greater growth and opportunity for all of its citizens.”
asserted
members → drive → citizens
The King arrived in the Caribbean nation on Friday ahead of his Tuesday summit opening address, which will receive heightened interest after the Prime Minister’s intervention.
asserted
which → arrive → intervention
But Charles, who as head of state is above party politics, is not expected to offer an apology or reference the change in Government policy.
asserted
who → expect → policy
As he arrived in the Caribbean, the Prime Minister denied claims his offer of slavery apology talks had made things more difficult for the King.
uncertain
things → arrive → King
He told ITV News: “No.
asserted
He → tell → News
We are reaching out and listening.
asserted
We → reach → ?
The whole aim here has been to come and listen and bring a new approach to the Commonwealth, and to bring people together.”
asserted
aim → come → people
Mr Burnham met Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, with whom he is expected to discuss the prospect of a deal on British backpackers amid concerns in Canberra about the impact of high levels of working UK holidaymakers on the labour market.
asserted
he → meet → market
He also held a bilateral meeting with Barbadian leader Mia Mottley at the leaders’ hotel in a seaside resort on Monday evening, with others expected later in the summit.
asserted
He → hold → summit
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged Mr Burnham against issuing a slavery apology, saying it would give countries a reason to ask Britain for reparations.
asserted
it → urge → reparations
She said: “I don’t think we should be giving any money to compensate people for the slave trade, and I don’t think that Andy Burnham needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash.”
asserted
it → say → cash
The Aporia
