Keir Starmer addressed the issue of reparatory justice during an executive session at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, acknowledging the importance of facing up to shared historical hardships. While the UK has firmly ruled out paying reparations, Caribbean countries have been pushing for them to be mentioned in the summit’s communique. Starmer emphasized the need to ensure the future is not overshadowed by the past and suggested working together with affected nations to address the issue.
Meanwhile, the value of the UK’s private healthcare market reached a record high last year, driven by long NHS waiting lists and increasing demand for private medical procedures. Additionally, a group that originated from a Conservative faction has become a forum for the far right, hosting a conference attended by extreme nationalist groups.
In other news, Rachel Reeves is set to overhaul spending rules to release funds for infrastructure projects, businesses importing critical minerals to the UK will receive state-backed loans, and there are ongoing debates about tax increases and government debt measurement in the upcoming budget. The government is also blocking a proposed outdoor smoking ban, arguing that it would be an “unserious” policy without sufficient evidence.
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