UK PM Andy Burnham Open to Formal Apology for Slavery, But Rejects Reparations

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated he is willing to consider a formal apology for the UK's historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, but he has ruled out financial reparations. In an article for The Guardian, Burnham wrote that Britain is "offering a structured dialog with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade," in which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery.

He added: "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." However, Burnham rejected calls for financial reparations, stating: "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."

The comments come ahead of next week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, where Caribbean leaders are expected to press for reparations. From the 15th to the 19th century, European traders sold millions of Africans into slavery, with Britain transporting an estimated 3.2 million people across the Atlantic, according to the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database.

King Charles, who is touring the Caribbean, said it is "only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past." Caribbean leaders have often framed reparations demands in terms of debt relief, development finance, education, healthcare, and climate resilience.

Burnham also wrote that he wants to "launch a new drive on debt," including helping more vulnerable countries "repay over a longer time period and with better rates." Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham's comments and proposals for practical assistance, but stressed that "the Caribbean's longstanding position on reparatory justice remains unchanged."