Burnham 'Open' to Calls for Slavery Apology but Not Reparations
Burnham offered structured talks on slavery and a formal apology, but said Britain will not pay compensation as Caribbean leaders press reparatory justice.
- 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.
149 Articles
149 Articles
UK PM Andy Burnham Open To Slavery Apology, But Rejects Reparations
Burnham said he wanted to "express my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions and to recognise the way it still shapes our world today", but insisted reparations were not "the right answer".
U.K. leader Burnham hints at apology for country's role in slave trade but rejects reparations
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, but has rejected calls for the country to pay reparations.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government would consider apologizing for the first time over the transatlantic slave trade, but rejected demands for London to pay reparations.
The British Prime Minister announced the study of an official apology for the slave trade and the opening of a dialogue with the affected countries to protect the Commonwealth, with his Government categorically refusing to pay any financial compensation for what he described as historical errors.
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