SIR Keir Starmer wants to use the £15trillion Commonwealth market to give the British economy a shot in the arm.
Arriving at the Samoan summit today, he will brush off a “protectionist approach” to enhance trade within the alliance.
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The PM is setting up a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise to unlock markets for UK business.
Sir Keir said: “We have an opportunity to turn around the lives of people in the UK. We can’t do that with a protectionist approach.”
He has also dismissed talk over Britain paying slave trade reparations.
The PM said: “In all the conversations I’ve had with them, what they’re most interested in is can we help them working with for example international institutions, financial institutions on the sorts of packages they need right now in relation to the challenges they’re facing right now.
“That’s where I’m going to put my focus rather than what will end up being very very long endless discussions about reparations on the past.
“This is about stance really, looking forward rather than looking backwards.
“Now of course slavery is abhorrent everybody – the trade and the practice, there’s no question about that.
“But I think from my point of view and taking the approach I’ve just taken, I’d rather roll up my sleeves and work with them on the current future-facing challenges than spend a lot of time on the past.
“That’s my focus.”
India and South Africa did not attend, choosing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
