Slavery: London opens the door to official apology, but still refuses to pay

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared himself open to an official apology from the British state for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, while ruling out any financial reparations. He outlined this position in an op-ed published by The Guardian newspaper on Friday, October 30, 2026, on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, reports Al Jazeera.

Burnham proposes structured discussions with countries and organizations affected by slavery, including on whether the United Kingdom should offer an official apology. Listening to these demands will form "an important part" of the process, he writes.

Regrets, but no money

The head of government expressed his sadness and regret for the suffering of millions of enslaved people, but he rejected calls for compensation: today's British people cannot, in his view, be held responsible for wrongs committed in another era, under different laws, and in which they took no part. On this point, he maintains the stance of his predecessors.

Instead, he puts forward an international initiative designed to ease the debt burden on poor countries by extending repayment periods and lowering interest rates. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be involved in the effort. Burnham notes that more than 40% of the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries spend more money on debt interest than on their people's healthcare.

The Caribbean maintains its demand

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley welcomed the opening of discussions while reaffirming her government's stance on reparations; according to The Guardian cited by Al Jazeera, she stated on October 31, 2026, that cooperation could also focus on health, education, development, and fairer borrowing terms. Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne, host of the summit, welcomed the debt initiative.

Caricom, the Caribbean regional bloc, champions a ten-point reparations plan that goes beyond financial payments: an apology, support for health and education, and measures to address the economic and social damage inherited from slavery. The issue had already dominated the 2024 Commonwealth summit in Samoa, despite opposition from then Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The organization brings together 56 countries, mostly former British colonies.

The King expected, without an apology

Charles III will attend the summit, but Buckingham Palace has made it known that he will not offer an official apology for slavery during his trip. During his nine-day Caribbean tour, the monarch declared in the Bahamas on October 28, 2026, that the country's culture was born "out of darkness" and that it was right to acknowledge historical injustices, reports Africanews. For University of Edinburgh historian Diana Paton, what Caribbean populations are primarily demanding is recognition of the harm suffered by their ancestors, alongside investments in education and health. Craig Prescott, a constitutional law expert at Royal Holloway, points out that the decision rests with the government, not the King, as any payout would involve public funds.