'We've had enough of apologising': Badenoch warns Burnham is piling pressure on the King over a slavery apology
Andy Burnham proposed a "structured dialogue" with affected countries on any formal apology, while firmly ruling out financial reparations ahead of the Commonwealth summit.King Charles III and Queen Camilla, whose constitutional role bars the King from referencing Andy Burnham's policy shift on a formal apology in his CHOGM address.
Burnham blindsided the Palace by declaring he was "open" to a formal slavery apology just days before CHOGM in Antigua, despite journalists travelling with King Charles being assured as late as Thursday that government policy was "absolutely no apology". Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy demanded the apology be a prelude to "concrete steps", while Barbados PM Mia Mottley seized on Burnham's words as opening the door to reparations.
Badenoch called the apology offer a "navel-gazing distraction", arguing Tony Blair's 2007 statement of "deep sorrow and regret" should suffice.
Reform's Suella Braverman warned: 'This is exactly how the Chagos disaster started,' cautioning a formal apology could bind Britain to legally enforceable reparations.
King Charles has already ruled out a formal state apology, putting him directly at odds with his own prime minister ahead of Tuesday's CHOGM summit.
