Burnham 'Open' to Calls for Slavery Apology but Not Reparations
Burnham said Britain should discuss a formal apology for slavery while rejecting compensation, as Caribbean leaders press for reparatory justice at the Commonwealth summit.
- On Friday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham wrote in The Guardian expressing "sorrow and regret" for the transatlantic slave trade while stating he is "open" to calls for a formal apology. He ruled out financial reparations, saying modern British people cannot be held liable for historical wrongs.
- Ahead of next week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Caribbean, Burnham's intervention comes as King Charles faces renewed regional demands for a formal apology during his tour of former British colonies.
- Rejecting financial reparations as "not the right answer," Burnham pledged a "structured dialogue" and announced a new debt-servicing initiative. Chancellor John Healey, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will join him at the summit to advance this development strategy.
- Denis O'Brien, founder of The Repair Campaign, called the Prime Minister's statement "disappointing," urging the government to "stop obfuscating and give a full and formal apology now" as a step toward reparatory justice.
- Downing Street believes strengthening Commonwealth ties serves Britain's interests in a world where China and Russia are expanding their influence. The government's emphasis on debt relief and development support aims to secure the Commonwealth's future amid geopolitical uncertainty.
29 Articles
29 Articles
British Prime Minister Burnham is open to a discussion about apologies for the history of slavery, but he is not in favor of reparations. He writes this in an opinion piece in The Guardian. The subject is once again prominently on the agenda during King Charles's current tour of the Caribbean. Labour Prime Minister Burnham writes that "there have been calls for years for a sincere conversation about the legacy of slavery" within the Commonwealt…
UK prime minister signals the government will consider an apology for its role in the slave trade
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham says his government will consider apologizing for the first time for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade as it seeks to strengthen relations with nations in Africa and the Caribbean.
Andy Burnham opens door for formal transatlantic slave trade apology
Andy Burnham has opened the door to a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade.But the Prime Minister has ruled out reparations, saying that today's Britons could not be "held liable for historical wrongs".The Prime Minister, who is due to attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean next week, expressed his personal "sorrow and regret" for the suffering caused by the transatlantic slave …
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