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Sat 31 Oct 2026 EN
· · 5 sources

UK PM Burnham open to slavery apology but rejects reparations

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he is willing to consider a formal apology for the transatlantic slave trade before attending the Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda next week.

‘Reparations now’: King and Burnham face protests at Antigua Commonwealth summit
File photo ‘Reparations now’: King and Burnham face protests at Antigua Commonwealth summit Photo: The Guardian

Apology stance explained

Burnham wrote in The Guardian that listening to calls for an official apology will form an important part of a structured dialogue. He expressed sorrow for the pain and suffering caused by the trade while acknowledging its lasting impact on the world today. However, he explicitly ruled out financial compensation for historical wrongs committed under different laws in a different age.

King Charles Caribbean tour

King Charles III is currently touring the Caribbean ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled from November 1 to 4. The monarch acknowledged the great suffering of the past during his visit to the Bahamas earlier this week. Reports indicate that Caribbean leaders expect to press demands for reparations at the upcoming summit in St John's.

All 5 outlets report consistently

No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.

  • Express Tribune
  • The Guardian
  • Dawn
  • South China Morning Post
  • Business Recorder

Reported by

5 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.