Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is 'open' to a formal British apology for slavery but rules out reparations
Andy Burnham proposed a "structured dialogue" with affected countries on any formal apology, while firmly ruling out financial reparations ahead of the Commonwealth summit.Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade prompted Andy Burnham to declare himself open to a formal state apology — a position no previous prime minister had taken.King Charles was welcomed to Guyana by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali ahead of a State Reception marking 60 years of UK-Guyana relations, with pop star Eddy Grant and Foreign Secretary David Lammy among the guests at the…King Charles, whose visit to the region precedes next week's Commonwealth summit, faces protests in St John's where campaigners have vowed the reparations issue will not be dodged.
Writing ahead of next week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua, Burnham broke with every previous British prime minister by declaring himself open to a formal state apology for the transatlantic slave trade. He appointed former PM Gordon Brown to lead a global effort to restructure the debt of the poorest former British colonies. But he drew a firm line on money, insisting British people today cannot be 'held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws'.
King Charles, already touring the Caribbean, is expected to reflect the government's shifting position in his CHOGM opening address on Tuesday.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said a formal apology would 'cost nothing' and help relieve the 'stench of Empire' hanging over the King's tour.
Protesters in Antigua are greeting leaders with billboards reading 'The royal family enslaved us! Apologise now!' — vowing the issue cannot be 'dodged'.
