The new leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch would likely be “deeply sceptical” of dropping the word “empire” from British honours, the shadow culture secretary has said.
Royal officials are considering offering those recognised with an OBE (Order of the British Empire), the option to receive an Order of British Excellence instead, the Mail on Sunday reports.
Another option, the Order of Elizabeth, has also been proposed, according to the paper.
A change would have to be decided on by the government.
Conservative shadow culture secretary Julia Lopez asked what the newly elected Conservative leader Ms Badenoch would think about the plan, said she thinks she would be against it.
Ms Lopez told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme: “My gut feeling is that she would be deeply sceptical towards that.
“Because there’s an implication that the empire is something that is a source of shame.
“And I don’t think that she’s ever thought that it is.”
Keir Starmer with Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa (centre) during the Commonwealth meeting. Pic: PA
A senior palace official is quoted in an updated biography of the King by Robert Hardman as saying the palace would be “pretty open to the idea”.
The British Empire’s legacy came again to the forefront during last month’s Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in Samoa where Sir Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure from Caribbean nations who want the UK to pay reparations for the impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
They also want a formal apology from the countries responsible, however the British prime minister ruled that out.
He said there was only “one paragraph in 20-something paragraphs, noting the call for discussion, agreeing a time for conversations” in the final communique agreed for the end of the meeting.
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‘It’s about UK’s relationship with Commonwealth countries’
Reparations are usually defined as payments made by a country for damage or losses caused to other nations or their people.
There are various estimates for what the UK would owe, but last year a report co-authored by a United Nations judge concluded the UK owed more than £18trn to 14 countries.
During a speech by the King last month, he hinted at the issue, saying how he understood “the most painful aspects of our past resonate, it is vital we understand our history to guide us to make the right choices in our future”.
With no direct mention of “slavery” or “reparations”, he added: “None of us can change the wrongs of the past but we can commit, with all our hearts, to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.”
