LONDON: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain’s historical role in slavery, while ruling out financial reparations ahead of next week’s Commonwealth summit.
Writing in The Guardian, Burnham said the British government was offering a structured dialogue with communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade, during which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery.
“Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them,” he wrote.
Reparations Rejected
Despite expressing openness to an apology, Burnham rejected demands for financial compensation for historical slavery.
“I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part,” he wrote.
His remarks come as Caribbean leaders prepare to press for reparatory justice at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda next week.
Britain’s Role in Slavery
From the 15th to the 19th century, millions of Africans were enslaved and transported across the Atlantic by European traders.
According to the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database, Britain transported an estimated 3.2 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.
The legacy of slavery remains a significant issue for Caribbean nations, which have called for acknowledgment of historical injustices and measures to address their lasting consequences.
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King Charles Acknowledges Suffering
King Charles, who is touring the Caribbean ahead of the summit, has also spoken about the suffering caused by slavery.
The British monarch said it was “only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past”.
His comments come as the reparations movement gains momentum across the Caribbean, where leaders are expected to raise the issue during discussions with representatives of Commonwealth member states.
Caribbean Leaders Seek Action
Caribbean leaders have often framed reparations as a broader package of practical measures rather than direct financial payments alone.
Their proposals include debt relief, development financing, investment in education and healthcare, and support for climate resilience.
Burnham also said he wanted to launch a new initiative on debt, including measures to help vulnerable countries repay loans over longer periods and at more favourable rates.
Antigua and Barbuda Responds
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham’s comments and proposals for practical assistance.
However, Browne made clear that the Caribbean’s position on reparatory justice had not changed.
“The Caribbean’s longstanding position on reparatory justice remains unchanged,” he said in a Facebook post.
The debate is expected to feature prominently at the upcoming Commonwealth summit, where historical accountability, economic support and the long-term effects of slavery are likely to remain key issues.
