Chris Elmore

I have no ambition in that direction, Mr Speaker, but thank you all the same. With permission, I will make a statement on the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 4 November. The Prime Minister led the United Kingdom delegation, accompanied by the Foreign Secretary and me. We joined Heads of Government and more than 30 Foreign Ministers from member states across the organisation. His Majesty the King, as head of the Commonwealth, and Her Majesty the Queen also attended. This was an important summit for the Commonwealth. At a time when the world is divided and uncertain, CHOGM reminded us of the value of the Commonwealth and what this enduring partnership of nations can achieve. It connects 56 countries and a third of the world’s people to address shared challenges and work together for practical solutions. This meeting also gave the United Kingdom an invaluable opportunity to strengthen important bilateral relationships and build coalitions around shared priorities. The Prime Minister described CHOGM as the “most successful” Commonwealth meeting of recent times. We took forward important discussions on economic growth, democratic resilience, climate and ocean action, and the needs of small and vulnerable states. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Commonwealth charter and supported a Commonwealth that is more focused, effective and capable of delivering practical results. I pay particular tribute to the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, which is the smallest country ever to host CHOGM. Organising a summit of this scale was a mammoth task, but our hosts delivered it with warmth, energy and ambition. There could be no better summary than His Majesty’s words at the opening ceremony: “Small island, big vibes.” The Caribbean setting brought into sharp focus the priorities of many Commonwealth members, particularly on growth, investment, climate resilience, debt and access to finance. This CHOGM placed greater emphasis than previous summits on trade and investment, which is in line with the UK’s approach. Governments, businesses and investors came together for the Commonwealth business forum, and for a dedicated investment summit to consider how the Commonwealth can become a modern economic partnership that mobilises private capital, removes barriers to trade and creates opportunities across all its members. The United Kingdom supported that ambition with a substantial package of practical measures. We announced a new partnership between British International Investment and the Inter-American Development Bank to unlock private investment across the Caribbean. We increased our support for the Commonwealth investment network, to help Commonwealth small island states attract climate-positive investment. We announced a new resilient infrastructure programme worth up to £40 million, building on the UK Caribbean infrastructure fund. The new programme will support renewable energy and infrastructure that can withstand the growing effects of climate change. We announced initiatives worth up to £8.7 million through the global clean power alliance finance mission. Working with the World Bank, these measures will support cleaner and more resilient energy systems across the Caribbean. We also signed a four-year partnership to support Jamaica’s National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority post Hurricane Melissa. This Government-to-Government partnership will support Jamaica in unlocking up to $6 billion of capital investment for resilient infrastructure, delivered with the expertise of world-leading UK firms, and could become a model for UK-supported reconstruction in the region and beyond. These initiatives will make a practical difference to our partners and their people. They can also create new opportunities for British investors, banks, insurers and professional services. CHOGM was not a stand-alone diplomatic event; it formed part of the United Kingdom’s wider multilateral approach, and built momentum ahead of COP31 and our G20 presidency next year. The Commonwealth allows us to hear directly from countries that often struggle to have their voices heard. At CHOGM, we worked with partners on climate resilience, debt, development finance and reform of the international financial system. We were pleased that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined those discussions in Antigua, and we will carry those conversations forward into the major international meetings ahead. Our aim is clear: a more representative international system that delivers growth, stability and opportunity, including for small and climate-vulnerable states. Democracy, good governance and the rule of law remain central to the Commonwealth. At CHOGM, we announced a partnership with Australia to protect parliamentarians from online abuse and support democratic participation. This will bring together technology, expertise and practical solutions, with a particular focus on the abuse faced by women in public life. Formal leaders’ and ministerial meetings were only one part of CHOGM. The Foreign Secretary addressed a United Kingdom-supported event on blue finance and innovation, alongside the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting the need for ambitious action on green shipping, stronger ocean governance and protection, and scaling up blue finance. I spoke at the Commonwealth women’s forum about our shared responsibility to combat violence against women and girls. I joined a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association panel on safeguarding democracy, alongside colleagues from Malta, the Commonwealth Secretariat and accredited organisations, and I was delighted to see a number of hon. Friends and colleagues in the audience. UK Ministers participated in discussions on small states, civil society, investment, climate finance and ocean protection. UK youth delegates participated in the Commonwealth youth forum, recognising that the Commonwealth’s future rests with young people. These events ensured that the summit gave voice to business, civil society, women and young people, as well as Governments. We are clear on the value we place on strong relationships with Commonwealth partners, on facing down shared challenges together, on seizing opportunities together, and on sharing our values to build a safer world for all of us, but as the Prime Minister set out ahead of CHOGM, if we are to meet these challenges of the future, we need to be ready to face up to the past. For years, those members of the Commonwealth affected by the transatlantic slave trade have wanted an honest conversation about the legacies of slavery. Before the summit, the Prime Minister set out how this Government intend to respond to those calls. He expressed sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering caused, and offered a new, structured dialogue with Caribbean and African partners. This dialogue needs to be co-designed with partners affected, and will involve listening with respect. It will be time-bound and inclusive. It will consider remembrance, education, culture and calls for a formal apology, to which the Government are open. It will also look to the future and support practical co-operation on the challenges faced by affected partners today, though our position on financial reparations has not changed. This approach was warmly received by partners. It helped create a positive and forward-looking discussion at the summit. It was welcomed in the CHOGM communiqué. Our focus now is on turning that solemn and sincere commitment into meaningful action. This CHOGM gave the Commonwealth renewed energy. It showed that this diverse family of nations can work together on the issues that matter most to its people: jobs, investment, climate resilience, democracy and opportunity. It also demonstrated the kind of partner the United Kingdom wants to be: outward-looking, reliable and respectful. We listened to the Commonwealth members, strengthened relationships across the global south and backed our words with practical commitments. We will now work with our partners to deliver on those commitments, carry their priorities into international moments ahead, and ensure that the Commonwealth fulfils its potential as a modern network for practical co-operation. I commend this statement to the House.