PM rules out payments but could back non-cash slavery reparations

Plan may involve debt relief and financial reform - but no apology

- Eleni Courea, Apia Peter Walker, Aletha Adu, Natricia Duncan

Keir Starmer has opened the door to non-financial reparations for Britain's role in transatlantic enslavement as he came under pressure from Commonwealth leaders to engage in a "meaningful, truthful and respectful" conversation about the country's past.

While Downing Street insists the wider issue of reparations is "not on the agenda" of this week's Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Samoa, No 10 has accepted it is likely to be referenced in the end-of-summit communique.

Caribbean countries in particular have been pushing for the issue to be discussed at the summit, with some arguing that continued resistance from Britain to even begin a conversation about the issue was not sustainable.

No 10 is still ruling out paying reparations or apologising for the British role in the transatlantic slave trade, but a Downing Street source indicated that the UK could support some forms of reparatory justice, such as restructuring financial institutions and providing debt relief.