LONDON, October 31, 2026 (DAILYNWZ) — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled openness to a formal state apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade but rejected financial reparations, setting the stage for a potentially contentious debate at next week’s Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda.
In an article published in The Guardian, Burnham said his government was offering structured dialogue with countries and communities affected by the slave trade, during which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery.
“Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them,” he wrote.
However, he ruled out financial compensation, arguing that people living in Britain today should not be held responsible for historical injustices committed under different laws and in circumstances in which they had no personal involvement.
“I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part,” Burnham said.
His position comes ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where Caribbean leaders are expected to renew calls for reparatory justice over the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, European traders transported millions of Africans across the Atlantic into slavery. Britain alone is estimated to have shipped around 3.2 million people, according to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database.
Caribbean governments have frequently framed their demands for reparations in practical economic terms, including debt relief, development financing, greater investment in education and healthcare, and support for climate resilience.
Burnham proposed a new initiative on debt as part of Britain’s engagement with vulnerable countries, saying he wanted to “launch a new drive on debt”. He added that his government would seek to help more vulnerable nations repay their obligations over longer periods and at more favourable interest rates.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham’s remarks and proposals for practical assistance but stressed that Britain’s willingness to discuss cooperation did not alter the Caribbean’s position on reparations.
“The Caribbean’s longstanding position on reparatory justice remains unchanged,” Browne wrote in a Facebook post.
King Charles, who heads the 56-member Commonwealth, comprising mainly former British colonies, is also expected to address Britain’s historical legacy during his visit to the summit.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the monarch “will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past”. However, the spokesperson said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on specific policy matters concerning the British government’s position.
Charles continues to receive treatment for cancer, although a senior palace aide said he remained “working as hard as ever, across time zones with packed schedules”.
The summit is expected to test how far Britain is prepared to go in acknowledging its historical responsibility while resisting demands for financial compensation. Burnham’s openness to an apology and his proposed debt initiative offer avenues for dialogue, but Caribbean leaders have made clear that their broader demands for reparatory justice remain firmly in place.