British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Saturday he was open to the UK issuing a formal apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade but ruled out financial reparations.
Writing in *The Guardian* ahead of a Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, Burnham expressed “sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions” and acknowledged its lasting impact. He described the trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” of enslaved people’s rights and proposed a “structured dialogue with those affected,” including discussions on a potential state apology .
Burnham rejected reparations, arguing that “British people today cannot be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws.” His stance aligns with previous UK governments, though he signaled a shift by engaging with calls for an apology .
The announcement comes as King Charles III tours the Caribbean, where he has acknowledged “the great suffering of the past” but stopped short of a formal apology. The monarch’s visit and the summit have amplified pressure on London to address its colonial legacy .
Burnham also unveiled plans for a debt restructuring initiative for poorer Commonwealth nations, led by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to extend repayment periods and lower interest rates. Over 40% of the world’s poorest countries spend more on debt interest than healthcare, he noted .
Caribbean leaders welcomed the dialogue but reiterated demands for reparations. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley said her government would engage in good faith while maintaining differences on compensation. CARICOM’s 10-point reparations plan includes an apology, healthcare and education support, and economic measures .
Denis O’Brien of *The Repair Campaign* called Burnham’s position “disappointing” and urged London to issue a full apology immediately as a first step toward reparatory justice. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch opposed both an apology and reparations, urging the Commonwealth to “look forward” .
The summit in St John’s runs from Sunday to Wednesday, with King Charles and Commonwealth leaders in attendance. Britain has never formally apologized for slavery or paid reparations, though it abolished the trade in 1807 and slavery in most of its empire in 1833 .
