Andy Burnham opens door to slavery payouts as Commonwealth nations seek 'justice'

Andy Burnham has opened the door to handing over slavery payouts just as Commonwealth nations seek out "justice".

Last week, the Prime Minister, who will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the Caribbean this week, shared his personal “sorrow and regret” for the suffering caused by the historic trade.

While Mr Burnham ruled out formal reparations, he has signalled he was opening to handing over cash through foreign aid funding for health and education projects, The Telegraph revealed.

An FCDO official said the report was "completely untrue", and told Politico aid policy, additional allocations and payments will be involved in Government policy.

So far this year, Britain has handed over £75million to Nigeria, and another £2.4million over to Jamaica.

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, admitted he was searching for "meaningful talks on reparatory justice" this week.

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, warned an apology would provide "yet another opportunity for people to start asking Britain for money because of the slave trade".

'So insulting!' Small business owner HITS BACK at Labour minister who branded employers 'not working people'

A small business owner has hit back at a Labour minister who claimed employers were not "working people."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds insisted there was a difference between employers and employees, despite being challenged with the example of pie seller Paul Bowen, who says his business is struggling to stay afloat following rises in inflation, National Insurance, and the minimum wage.

Speaking exclusively to GB News, Mr Bowen said the minister insulted not only him, but all small business owners across Britain.

He said: "It is so insulting to small business owners. I cannot believe she thinks we don't work. I speak for every small business. The plumber, butcher, hard grafter, bricklayer, construction home worker, cleaner, everyone. We feel insulted."

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Commonwealth leaders urged to focus on tackling modern slavery rather than demanding TRILLIONS in reparations

A new report has urged Commonwealth leaders to tackle modern slavery rather than demand trillions in reparations.

The Atonement Complex, shared exclusively with GB News, argues that greater attention should be paid to the estimated 50 million people living in modern slavery worldwide.

It comes as Andy Burnham is set to attend a Commonwealth leaders’ summit in the Caribbean this week, after the Prime Minister signalled he was open to calls for a formal British apology for its role in the slave trade.

However, a new report by Professor Doug Stokes for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) challenges the claim that slavery underpinned Britain's prosperity.

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Labour set to end half of council power-sharing agreements with Greens over 'Zionism is racism' policy

Labour is set to end almost half of the party's power-sharing agreements with Green councils as the fallout over the "Zionism is Racism" policy rumbles on.

Last month, all Labour council groups currently in coalition or other power-sharing arrangements with the Greens at council level were asked to write to the party and seek "reassurances" that they condemned the motion.

Local Labour politicians also urged their Green partners to call on the party’s national leaders to denounce it.

Now, Labour is expected to push about half a dozen councils into no overall control or try to form coalitions with other parties after Andy Burnham said the party would have "nothing to do" with the policy, The Telegraph revealed.