UK PM Burnham ‘open’ to slavery apology, but not reparations

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Saturday that he is "open" to issuing a formal apology for Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, but firmly opposed financial reparations. The Labour leader made these comments as he prepared to attend a Commonwealth leaders summit in Antigua and Barbuda, during which King Charles III is touring the Caribbean.

Burnham expressed his sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering caused by the slave trade, recognizing that its impact still shapes the world today. He described the transatlantic slave trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation" of the rights of those enslaved. Britain had profited from colonialism and the slave trade for centuries, with the British Parliament passing a law to abolish slavery in 1833.

Burnham's government sought a "structured dialogue with those affected," emphasizing that listening to calls for a formal apology would be an important part of the process. However, he reiterated his belief that financial compensation was not the appropriate response, stating, "I do not believe that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part."

The Commonwealth summit, which runs from November 1 to 4, aimed to address Britain's central role in slavery and the treatment of people in its former colonies. In the Bahamas, King Charles III acknowledged the "great suffering of the past" during the first leg of his Caribbean tour.