Home · World · Nov 1 archive
UK PM Burnham Open to Slavery Apology, Rejects Reparations
· ConfirmedShare on
In Short: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade but ruled out financial reparations.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade, but has ruled out financial reparations, according to multiple outlets including Al Jazeera and NBC News. Burnham's stance comes amid ongoing calls for accountability and reparations from Caribbean nations and activists.
In an opinion piece published in The Guardian, Burnham expressed sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering caused by the slave trade, which he described as a 'brutal and barbaric violation' against enslaved people. He wrote, '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.'
Burnham's comments come during Black History Month and ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda. The prime minister has ruled out financial reparations despite longstanding demands from Caribbean nations, according to Al Jazeera.
British abolitionists began campaigning against slavery in 1787, particularly in cities like Manchester. The transatlantic slave trade lasted between the 16th and 19th centuries and saw some 12 million enslaved Africans torn from their homes and forcibly transported on ships to the Americas with the help of local warlords. Only 2.7 million arrived, as many perished in treacherous sea journeys.
Since 2013, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) has called on Western countries involved in the slave trade to acknowledge their role and institute monetary reparations. CARICOM called for a 'full and formal apology', monetary compensation from nations, but also institutions, including corporations and churches.
Prime Minister Burnham's openness to a formal apology marks a shift in the UK government's stance. Previous UK leaders, including Tony Blair, expressed 'deep sorrow' for Britain's role in the slave trade but stopped short of offering an apology or discussing reparations. Blair's statement in 2006 fell short of the demands for reparations and a formal apology.
Burnham's decision to consider an apology but reject reparations has drawn mixed reactions. Caribbean leaders have welcomed the acknowledgment of the brutality of the slave trade, with Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Mottley saying, 'Barbados welcomes the UK prime minister's acknowledgement of the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade, his openness to a formal apology and his offer of structured dialogue.'
However, opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticized Burnham's move as 'navel-gazing' and warned that an apology could lead to more demands for reparations. Badenoch urged the prime minister not to apologize because she said it would lead to more demands for reparations, which UK politicians of all stripes have opposed.
Background
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade but has ruled out financial reparations.
What's confirmed
- The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said his country is open to apologising for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade but ruled out reparations, which campaigners have for years called for.
- “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,” Burnham wrote, in what amounted to a personal apology.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier he was "open" to the possibility of the UK formally apologising for its role in slavery - a change in the government's stance. It is understood the Palace was told in advance of Burnham's comments in an opinion piece on Friday night, and the King has not made any changes to his speech in light of them. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations. Burnham has previously stuck with the policy of his predecessors, and stopped short of offering any consideration of reparation payments. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described "endless talk about apologies" as a "distraction" from solving current problems.
- LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that he is open to a formal apology for his country’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but ruled out financial reparations as King Charles III continued his tour of the Caribbean.
- Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged the Prime Minister not to apologise because she said it would lead to more demands for reparations, which UK politicians of all stripes have opposed.
- Andy Burnham has said he is willing to discuss a formal slavery apology from Bri<span class="truncate"><span class="truncate-preview">tain (Russell Cheyne<span class="truncate-full-screen">/PA)</span></span></span> Andy Burnham has said he is willing to discuss a formal slavery apology from Bri<span class="truncate"><span class="truncate-preview">tain (Russell Cheyne<span class="truncate-full-screen">/PA)</span></span></span> Andy Burnham has been warned against issuing a formal apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade because it “is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash”.
- In an OP-ED published at the weekend in The Guardian, Burnham described the slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” against enslaved people.
- The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, said in a post on X: "Barbados welcomes the UK prime minister's acknowledgement of the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade, his openness to a formal apology and his offer of structured dialogue."
- Chancellor John Healey defended Mr Burnham’s consideration of a formal apology, but said British people today should not be held financially liable for the slave trade in which they played no part.
- The Prime Minister, who is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean next week, has said he was “open” to discussing a slavery apology from Britain.
- O'Brien called Burnham's op-ed "disappointing", predicting it will not "quell the demand for an apology".
- 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".
What's still developing
- Burnham wrote in an opinion article in The Guardian on Friday that Britain would also work on debt restructuring for the poorest countries, marking an historic turn in London’s stance.
- Jamaica's prime minister, Andrew Holness, said of Mr Burnham's comments: "Open-minded dialogue is always a good place to start addressing difficult issues."
- As he prepares to fly to the Caribbean next week, the prime minister said he was open to calls for an official apology on behalf of the state and offered formal talks to those affected, including individual countries and campaign groups at home and abroad.
- In a post on X, Badenoch wrote that Labour was "already spending too much on Britain's welfare state, now is not the time for Andy Burnham to be providing global welfare."