Slavery Apology Possible but No Reparations: Burnham

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is open to the UK issuing a formal apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade but has ruled out financial reparations, the BBC reported. This shift in tone comes as the Prime Minister prepares to attend a Commonwealth leaders summit in the Caribbean, where regional nations have renewed demands for both an apology and reparatory justice.

Burnham described the slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” and stated that Britain must “face up to the past.” While he is open to “calls for an apology” as part of a “structured dialogue” with those affected, he dismissed financial reparations as “not the right answer.”

Burnham rejects liability for historical wrongs

In a piece for The Guardian, Burnham argued that current British citizens cannot be held liable for “historical wrongs, however heinous,” that occurred under different laws in a different age. He stated that today’s population played no personal part in those events.

This position aligns with the policy of his predecessors. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or provided reparations. However, a government source told the BBC that moving toward an apology is “morally the right thing to do.”

Geostrategic stakes at the Commonwealth summit

The Prime Minister’s comments precede the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in St John’s, Antigua. Downing Street believes strengthening the Commonwealth is a strategic necessity as Russia and China seek to expand their influence. POLITICO reported that a UK government official described the Commonwealth as “more important to our geostrategic position now than at any time throughout its 80-year history,” citing its role in driving global support for Ukraine and climate initiatives.

The timing follows a Russia-Africa summit hosted by Vladimir Putin in Moscow. To address the economic disparities within the Commonwealth, Burnham told The Guardian he intends to launch a new drive on debt, working with Gordon Brown to help vulnerable countries repay debts over longer periods and at better rates.

Reactions from Caribbean leaders and advocates

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, welcomed the statement and said she would engage in good faith, though she continues to seek reparatory justice. Other critics view the gesture as insufficient.

Denis O’Brien, founder of The Repair Campaign, called the statement “disappointing,” stating that the government must stop “obfuscating” and issue a full apology immediately as a first step toward justice. After the UK abstained from a vote on March 25 and previously resisted apologies, some observers had anticipated a shift in response.

Commonwealth perspectives on reparatory justice

Commonwealth meeting in St John’s

The official CHOGM summit will be accompanied by a side meeting on November 2 titled “From Samoa to St John’s: Britain, the Commonwealth and the Road to Reparatory Justice.” This gathering of lawyers, parliamentarians, and civil society aims to move the conversation from “resolution to repair.”

This follows a 2024 agreement among Commonwealth leaders in Samoa that a meaningful conversation about reparatory justice was necessary. While the UK focuses on dialogue, POLITICO reports that some members, including India, view the current Commonwealth format as “ridiculous,” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi not planning to attend the upcoming summit.