Key facts
- Operation Black Vote chair David Weaver said Badenoch's slavery comments caused profound anger, hurt and disbelief among many black voters.
- Weaver said Badenoch's remarks showed a troubling absence of moral leadership and were profoundly insulting.
- Weaver urged Andy Burnham to apologise for Britain's role in slavery without qualification.
- Burnham has said he is open to a formal state apology but has ruled out reparations.
- Weaver said black voters who backed Labour in 2024 felt despondent and taken for granted over the Windrush scandal.
- Commonwealth leaders said the UK agreed to structured dialogue within the next year.
David Weaver, chair of Operation Black Vote, said on November 6, 2026 that comments by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch about transatlantic slavery had caused "profound anger, hurt and disbelief" among many black voters. He urged prime minister Andy Burnham to apologise for Britain's involvement in slavery without delay.
Badenoch said Burnham should not apologise for Britain's historical role in slavery "because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash", while criticising Commonwealth leaders on X. Burnham has said he is open to making a formal apology on behalf of the British state but has ruled out reparations.
Weaver said he welcomed Burnham's apparent willingness to apologise, but called the government's "almost reflexive insistence" that any apology come with assurances that reparations are off the table concerning. He said only the prime minister had the power to address the hurt felt by descendant communities and show Britain had the "moral courage to apologise without qualification".
Weaver said Badenoch's comments were "profoundly insulting" and showed a "troubling absence of moral leadership". He said Operation Black Vote had found black voters felt "despondent" with Labour and "taken for granted", particularly over its handling of the consequences of the Windrush scandal, although they were more likely than any other voters to have backed Labour in the 2024 general election.
Weaver said: "All parties should understand that to not apologise for slavery, the worst crime against humanity, is an insult. An apology should not have to be begged for." He added that reparative justice is not just about money and that acknowledging the historical injustice remains difficult.
Badenoch, who has advocated a "colour-blind" approach to race, has argued that people from ethnic minorities should be free to express differing views on race without being accused of betraying their communities. The report said she has given roles to Rupert Lowe, Katie Lam and Joshua Bonehill-Paine, and has outlined plans to scrap the public sector equality duty and leave the European court of human rights.
Weaver said many black voters mistrusted Badenoch for a lack of empathy and that she becomes a front for unacceptable views on race. Downing Street and the Conservative party were approached for comment. Commonwealth leaders have said the UK has agreed to "structured dialogue" in the next year.