Burnham hands the Caribbean £40m in aid amid demands for slavery reparations and signals he is 'open' to an apology
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.
Andy Burnham flew to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Tuesday, where he is set to indicate willingness to issue a formal apology over Britain's historic involvement in the slave trade. The £40m package, distributed across three years, is directed at green energy and critical infrastructure throughout Caribbean nations. A full apology could reportedly come in a matter of months, even as critics warn it would trigger compensation claims running into the trillions.
Burnham ruled out direct financial reparations but declined to close the door on a formal government apology.
Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne told Burnham the consequences of slavery 'have not disappeared with the passage of time.'
Britain will also lead two new task forces — on critical minerals and trade — both due to report before the next Commonwealth summit.
