UK PM rejects slavery reparations, offers 12.5 million historical acknowledgment

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on Friday that he is prepared to issue a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade, while firmly rejecting demands for financial reparations.

In an article published in The Guardian, Burnham said the British government is offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the trade, during which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery. He described listening to calls for an official apology as an important part of this process.

Burnham argued that current British citizens should not be held liable for historical wrongs committed under different laws in a different age. He wrote that he does not think people today played a personal part in those events, no matter how heinous they were.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade Database estimates that British traders transported 3.2 million people across the Atlantic between the 15th and 19th centuries. King Charles recently said it is only right for the UK to acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of that past while touring the Caribbean.

Caribbean leaders are expected to press for reparations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next week in Antigua and Barbuda. These demands often include debt relief, development finance, and climate resilience measures.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham's proposals for practical assistance, including a new drive on debt that would help vulnerable countries repay loans over longer periods with better rates. Browne added in a Facebook post that the Caribbean's position on reparatory justice remains unchanged.