Antigua's prime minister demands Burnham pay slavery reparations, warning past 'atrocities' could be repeated without compensation
Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, confronted King Charles and Queen Camilla at a Sunday church service, before warning that without financial reparations "there is likely to be a repeat of those atrocities.The King and Queen at a church service in Antigua and Barbuda, where Andy Burnham's surprise declaration that he was "open" to a formal slavery apology put the King under constitutional pressure ahead of the Commonwealth summit.King Charles and Queen Camilla meet West Indies cricketing legends at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, as prime minister Gaston Browne declared himself a republican who personally wants Charles removed as the country's head of state.King Charles III with Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who branded Kemi Badenoch "misguided" for arguing a formal apology would open the door to cash demands.Prime Minister Andy Burnham with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, at a Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, as Kemi Badenoch warned his slavery-apology pivot would see Caribbean nations pocket any apology and immediately demand billions more.Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party, whom Gaston Browne branded "misguided" for arguing a formal apology would lever open the door to cash demands, said Britain's answer on reparations was "no.
Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, issued the demand moments after attending a Sunday church service alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, warning that without financial restitution, past "atrocities" are likely to be repeated. Burnham, who flies to Antigua on Monday for the Commonwealth summit, has offered "structured dialogue" but insists British taxpayers will not foot the bill. Caribbean nations are presenting a Ten-Point Plan costed at between $7 trillion and $24 trillion.
Browne also declared he personally wants King Charles removed as Antigua's head of state, though a two-thirds public vote is required to change the constitution.
Kemi Badenoch hit back, saying Britain should walk away from the table and stop apologising — Browne responded that she 'does not deserve to be a prime minister'.
Burnham has reportedly dragged the King into a party-political row, with Charles due to open the summit on Tuesday as head of a Commonwealth increasingly split over the issue.
