In brief
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced his willingness to apologise for Britain's slave trade role during an op‑ed in *The Guardian*, while rejecting reparations. He also pledged debt restructuring for the poorest Commonwealth countries. The declaration comes as Britain hosts a four‑day summit in Antigua and Barbuda and King Charles embarks on a Caribbean tour.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Friday that the United Kingdom is open to issuing a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, but he rejected calls for reparations, according to an opinion piece he wrote in The Guardian.
In the op‑ed, Burnham stated, “I want to express my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions of people, and to recognise the way it still shapes our world today,” offering what critics called a personal apology but not a financial restitution package.
Burnham also pledged that the UK would work on debt restructuring for the poorest Commonwealth nations, signalling a historic shift in London’s stance on the long‑standing calls for reparations.
The announcement coincided with the start of a four‑day summit that began Sunday, bringing together more than 50 Commonwealth countries that were formerly colonised by Britain. The leaders are meeting in St John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, where King Charles has arrived to host them.
King Charles, who is touring the Caribbean, has faced questions about whether he will discuss reparations during his visits. In contrast, Burnham’s statement focuses only on an apology and debt relief.
Opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Burnham’s move, describing it as “navel‑gazing” and said it failed to address the demands of Caribbean nations that insist on reparations.
