UK won’t pay slavery reparations, Rishi Sunak vows as he insists ‘trying to unpick our history is not the way forward’

RISHI Sunak today slammed calls for the government to pay slavery reparations and refused to apologise for Britain’s past.

At PMQs Mr Sunak insisted that “trying to unpick our history is not the way forward”.

He was asked by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy to offer a “full and meaningful apology” for Britain’s “role in slavery and colonialism, and commit to reparatory justice”.

But a defiant PM responded: “No.”

He said instead the government’s focus should be on “making sure that we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of people from all backgrounds”.

Mr Sunak added: “That’s something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and it’s not something that we will focus our energies on.”

At PMQs the PM also defended the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, which will be debated in the Commons today.

The flagship legislation will see illegal migrants detained and removed from the UK within 28 days.

It will also ban small boat arrivals from ever settling in Britain.

Labour and lefty lawyers have spent weeks berating the plan, which they are trying to stop from happening.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn asked the PM whether people suffering in Sudan would be able to seek refuge in the UK under the new Bill.

Mr Sunak responded: “As outlined earlier, our priority in Sudan, first and foremost, was to evacuate our diplomats and their families, which I’m very pleased we were one of the first countries to be able to do.

“Since yesterday, we have been conducting a large-scale evacuation of British nationals.

“We have some of the largest numbers of British nationals on the ground and rightly – and I am sure the whole House will agree with me – that it is reasonable, legal, and fair to prioritise those most vulnerable families, particularly those with elderly people in them, medical conditions, but also children.”