Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is open to a formal apology for the transatlantic slave trade.
- Burnham ruled out financial reparations for the slave trade.
- Burnham described the slave trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation."
- The UK finished paying off the debt incurred to compensate slave owners in 2015.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated openness to a formal UK apology for the transatlantic slave trade, while firmly rejecting calls for financial reparations. Speaking ahead of a Commonwealth leaders summit, Burnham characterized the slave trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation" and stressed the need for Britain to "face up to the past." He proposed a "structured dialogue" with affected communities, stating he was "open" to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state. However, he believes current British people should not be held liable for historical wrongs. A government source described the stance as "morally the right thing to do," aiming to strengthen Commonwealth ties amid global influence competition. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley welcomed the statement but indicated continued pursuit of reparatory justice, while The Repair Campaign founder Denis O'Brien deemed the apology insufficient.