Clive Lewis, who has been vocal in his support for payments, said he was optimistic that a “forward-thinking” administration could address historic wrongs
Labour has slapped down calls for reparations to countries affected by the slave trade after an MP said there is a “buzz” around the prospect of a progressive Government.
Clive Lewis, who has been vocal in his support for payments, said he was optimistic that a “forward-thinking” administration could address historic wrongs. But a party spokesman swiftly dampened these hopes, stating: “We don’t support reparations.”
Mr Lewis, who led a debate in Parliament on the demand earlier this year, told BBC Radio 4: “I’m working very hard with organisations, with Caribbean governments on the issue of reparations for slavery. This is something where I think there’s a slight buzz at the moment, there’s a sense that there’s a new administration coming into the UK, one that is more progressive, that will be forward-thinking.”
And he added: “I think there’s a real possibility that we could have a Labour Government that will lead the way internationally.”