King Praised by UK Prime Minister Amidst Controversial Heckling by Australian Senator

Starmer Commends the King Following Australian Senator's Outburst

The Prime Minister stands by the monarch following accusations from Lidia Thorpe, who charged him with perpetrating "genocide" against her community.

Political journalist @Journoamrogers

Monday, October 21, 2024, 6:

Sir Keir Starmer commended the King on his "fantastic job" following an incident where he was heckled by a senator within the Australian parliament.

The prime minister described the King as an "outstanding representative" for both the UK and the 56 sovereign nations that constitute the Commonwealth.

He made his remarks following an incident where Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe heckled the king during his speech to the Australian parliament on Monday.

Ms. Thorpe charged the King with committing "genocide" against the indigenous population of her country during a greeting ceremony in Canberra, exclaiming, "This land does not belong to you. You are not my King."

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When questioned about his views on politicians jeering at the King on Monday, Sir Keir responded, "Look, I believe the King is performing wonderfully, serving as an exceptional envoy for not only our nation but also throughout the Commonwealth."

"He's performing exceedingly well, and it's important to acknowledge that despite his own health struggles, he continues to serve the public. So, in my view, he is doing an excellent job."

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Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe stands by her remarks to the King, describing them as 'universal truth speaking'

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Ms. Thorpe holds the distinction of being the inaugural Aboriginal female senator from Victoria. During her swearing-in, she opted not to pledge allegiance to the recently deceased Queen.

Following the King's speech at Parliament House, Ms. Thorpe, donning a possum skin coat and holding a message stick, exclaimed, "Return our land. Return what was taken from us… Our children, our communities. You ruined our land."

Ms. Thorpe was subsequently escorted out of the building's hallway while she exclaimed, "We demand a treaty – we seek a treaty with this country… this land does not belong to you, this is not your land, you are not my King, you are not our King."

She claimed that she was stopped from giving the King a document titled "notice of complicity in Aboriginal genocide" as per the 1998 Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The senator from Australia has stood by her behavior, explaining to Sky News' Kay Burley, "he cannot be our King."

"She asserted, 'We are the true rulers of this nation. The King resides in your nation; he is of your nationality.'"

She continued, "Our ancestral bones and skulls are still held by his family. We are seeking their return, along with the restitution of our land."

"We urge your King to demonstrate leadership by joining us at the negotiating table to discuss a treaty."

When questioned about her choice of the term "genocidal," Ms. Thorpe argued that "this country has thousands of massacre sites dating back to the colonial era, and accountability is necessary. As the current leader, he must provide answers."

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The monarch, who earlier disclosed his cancer diagnosis, has temporarily halted his medical treatment to undertake his inaugural trip to Australia as the ruler of the nation.

Later this week, he is scheduled to travel to Samoa to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where he will be joined by Sir Keir.

Caribbean leaders are increasingly advocating for reparations to address the consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.

In 2022, a judge from the United Nations stated that the United Kingdom is responsible for approximately 18 trillion pounds in compensation for its role in slavery across 14 nations.

Downing Street has stated that Sir Keir continues to resist calls for an apology for Britain's past involvement in slavery, and has indicated that the topic of reparations will not be discussed at the summit, despite pressure from some members of his party.

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Today, the spokesperson for the prime minister stated that reparations will not be discussed at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The official stance of the government remains unchanged; they do not issue reparations.

"The prime minister will participate in this week's summit to explore common issues and prospects within the Commonwealth, focusing on stimulating economic expansion."

When questioned further on the subject of an apology, the spokesperson reiterated: "Our stance on issuing an apology remains unchanged. There will be no apology at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). However, we remain committed to collaborating with our partners on current issues and those affecting future generations."

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