In July 2025, Britain saw a significant political shift as the Labour party secured a landslide victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. As questions arise about the impact of this political transformation on British foreign policy, particularly concerning Commonwealth countries, the verdict seems to suggest minimal change.
Britain remains one of 56 member nations in the Commonwealth, retaining significant power as a nuclear-armed state and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. With its economy ranked as the sixth largest globally, the UK continues to play a vital financial role within the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Despite this, the Commonwealth has not prominently featured on Britain’s political landscape. The Labour election manifesto contained only a brief mention of the Commonwealth, buried within a broader discussion on international alliances. However, once in power, Labour quickly recognized the prominence of the Commonwealth, largely due to the upcoming heads of government meeting in Samoa just months after the election.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s enthusiasm for the Commonwealth has further emphasized its importance under the Labour government compared to the previous Conservative administration. Lammy’s approach suggests a renewed commitment to enhancing Britain’s relationship with Commonwealth nations.
In a speech delivered in September 2024, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth, Lammy expressed pride in the organization as a vital network connecting individuals worldwide. He noted the importance of the Commonwealth in addressing contemporary global challenges and highlighted his personal connection to the organization, stemming from his heritage as the child of Windrush migrants from Guyana.
Lammy articulated an ambitious vision for revitalizing the Commonwealth, a sentiment not universally shared among member states. He outlined the organization’s historical phases, asserting that the Commonwealth is now entering a new multipolar era under the leadership of King Charles III.
However, the assertion that the post-colonial phase has concluded warrants further examination. Recent governmental efforts to move towards decolonization, notably regarding the Chagos Islands, indicate ongoing complexities in addressing past injustices. The proposed agreement with Mauritius seeks to rectify historical wrongs but also highlights Britain’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.
Labor’s government marked progress by announcing the Chagos Islands resolution before participating in the Samoa Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where they established mutual priorities including investment, climate change mitigation, and educational enhancement. Acknowledging the absence of leaders from India and South Africa, the summit still offered an opportunity for Labour’s newly elected leaders to assert their presence on the international stage.
Assessing the effectiveness of the outcomes from the Samoa meeting in promoting intra-Commonwealth trade and collaboration will depend on sustained commitment from member nations. British diplomats celebrated any measure of progress as ‘movement in the right direction,’ an attitude reflected in the Labour government’s outreach to civil societies, which showcase the Commonwealth’s soft power potential.
Nonetheless, a contentious topic emerged during the Samoa conference: the call for reparations from nations benefiting from the Transatlantic slave trade to victims’ descendants. Despite growing pressure on the UK government to address historical injustices, the official stance has been to resist financial restitution, a position that has sparked dissatisfaction among various Commonwealth countries.
As the Labour government strives to navigate these sensitive discussions, it faces challenges in balancing domestic fiscal constraints against calls for reparative justice. The issue of reparations underscores a significant dilemma: while the dialogue could foster greater unity within the Commonwealth, it additionally poses substantial financial implications for the UK.
