Burnham opens the door to a British slavery apology as the King arrives in Antigua to face 'reparations now' protests
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 in the Guardian, Burnham said he is open to "calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state" for the transatlantic slave trade — the furthest any British prime minister has gone on the issue. He ruled out financial reparations, insisting today's Britons "cannot be held liable for historical wrongs" in which they "played no personal part." Gordon Brown has been asked to lead a global effort to restructure the debt of poorer former British colonies as part of the broader package.
Caribbean leaders are unmoved: Guyana's President Ali said a formal apology is merely 'the next step', while Antigua protesters warn the issue is not one Burnham can 'dodge'.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for African Reparations, said an apology would 'cost nothing' and help lift the 'stench of Empire'.
King Charles's opening CHOGM address on Tuesday is now expected to reflect the shift — a speech his advisers had previously kept free of any apology language.
