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Burnham 'open' to calls for a formal British apology for slavery but rules out reparations

70 articles from 11 sources
First reported on Friday 30 October 2026 at 18:00 EDT by The Guardian·Latest article on Monday 2 November 2026 at 18:52 EST

Summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is 'open' to calls for a British formal apology for slavery but rules out reparations, the Evening Standard, The Independent and BBC News reported from Friday 30 October, The Guardian reporting that Burnham offered formal talks to those affected and is to launch a drive to restructure the debt of the poorest Commonwealth countries ahead of the summit in Antigua and Barbuda. Kemi Badenoch called an apology a 'navel-gazing distraction', The Independent and The Guardian reported, the King is to speak about slavery with 'unflinching honesty' but no apology is expected, and on 1 November Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne called on Burnham to offer reparations, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported. On Monday 2 November Downing Street denied Burnham was poised for slave trade payouts, The Independent reported, Burnham is to set out a Commonwealth 'debt reset' for nations struggling with higher borrowing costs, according to Sky News, the Evening Standard and The Independent, and The Guardian reported that Burnham will ask countries affected by the UK's role in slavery to help shape a formal apology. The Independent then reported that Burnham pledged £40m in aid for green energy schemes in the Caribbean amid calls for reparations, and Burnham denied claims that the offer of slavery apology talks made things difficult for the King, the two men having met in Antigua, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.

Latest: Burnham pledged £40m in aid for the Caribbean amid calls for reparations over the UK's role in the slave trade, saying the money will go to green energy schemes, The Independent reported, and Burnham denied claims that the offer of slavery apology talks made things difficult for the King, the two men having met in Antigua on Monday evening, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.

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How it unfolded

  1. Monday 2 November

    Gaston Browne said Burnham should offer reparations, The Independent reported, and called Kemi Badenoch 'misguided', HuffPost UK reported, Downing Street denied Burnham was poised for slave trade payouts and the Palace said the King's role is not about policy-making, The Independent reported, and Burnham is to set out a Commonwealth 'debt reset', the Evening Standard, The Independent, Sky News, the Financial Times and the Manchester Evening News reported, The Guardian writing that Burnham will ask countries affected by the UK's role in slavery to help shape a formal apology.

  2. Sunday 1 November

    Burnham was warned a formal apology for slavery will open the door to reparations demands and, in the evening, Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne called on Burnham to offer reparations, telling ITV News that without compensation there could be a repeat of 'atrocities', the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, The Guardian reporting a minister saying an apology will not lead to financial reparations and that the UK was 'vehement' reparations should not be on the summit agenda, and Sky News that the King will speak with 'sincere sorrow'.

  3. Saturday 31 October

    The King arrived in Antigua and Barbuda to address Commonwealth leaders as Burnham offered slavery apology talks, the Evening Standard, The Independent and Sky News reported, BBC News reporting Burnham saying reparations are 'not the right answer', The Guardian reporting 'Reparations now' protests at the summit and The Independent reporting Kemi Badenoch's 'navel-gazing distraction' remark, and in the evening the Manchester Evening News, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported that the King is to speak about slavery with 'unflinching honesty' but that no apology is expected.

  4. Friday 30 October

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham is 'open' to calls for a British formal apology for slavery, expressing personal 'sorrow and regret' for the suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, while The Guardian reported that Burnham offered formal talks to those affected and is to launch a drive to restructure the debt of the poorest Commonwealth countries but rejects demands for reparations.

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