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Badenoch claims British empire was force for good overall: ‘We have had enough of apologies’
Badenoch said Britain owes no new apology or cash and warned that Commonwealth summits could be boycotted if reparations demands continue.
On Saturday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned Britain should reconsider attending Commonwealth summits if countries continue demanding reparations for the historical slave trade.
The comments precede a Commonwealth leaders' summit hosted by Antigua next week, where King Charles is expected to address slavery with unflinching honesty and sincere sorrow.
Badenoch called the British Empire 'overall a force for good' and argued British taxpayers should not be held responsible for historical injustices, noting 'more than $100 billion of debt was eventually written off' about 25 years ago.
Chancellor John Healey defended the government's stance on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, stating Britons should not accept financial liability for the slave trade 'in which they had no role.'
Badenoch accused some political elites of using historical debates to deflect from present-day economic failures, as BMG polling indicates she is currently the UK's most popular leader ahead of Labour.