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Burnham Flies to the Commonwealth Summit Open to a Slavery Apology, but Not to Paying Reparations
Andy Burnham lands in Antigua and Barbuda today for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Caribbean leaders say an apology without repair is incomplete; the Conservatives and Reform say there should be no apology at all.
Published Nov. 2, 2026, 08:55 GMT
Last updated: 2 Nov 2026References
What changed
In an article in The Guardian on Friday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his "sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions" caused by the transatlantic slave trade. He went further than his predecessors on one point: "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 also said the UK would offer "a structured dialogue" and help the poorest countries restructure their debts, with former prime minister Gordon Brown leading that work.
What he ruled out was money paid as reparations. "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," he wrote.
Where it is being discussed
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) runs from Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 November in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda. The King, as Head of the Commonwealth, is already there and opens the summit with a speech on Tuesday. The government plane left Stansted at about 6am on Monday and stopped at Manchester to collect Mr Burnham, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Buckingham Palace says the King "will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past" but, as head of state, will not comment on UK government policy.
Who wants what
| Who | Position |
|---|---|
| CARICOM (Caribbean Community) | Chair Philip J Pierre, Saint Lucia's prime minister: an apology without repair is "incomplete". Responsibility "does not expire with the passing of generations". |
| Barbados (Mia Mottley) | A 19-point plan published in June: full formal apology, compensation, debt relief and funding for health, education and technology. |
| Ghana (President John Mahama) | Welcomed the statement "with caution"; wants a formal apology and targeted investment. |
| Conservatives (Kemi Badenoch) | Called it "navel-gazing"; warns an apology opens the door to demands for money. |
| Reform UK (Robert Jenrick) | Says the UK should be proud of leading the abolition of slavery and "look to the future". |
One claim to treat with care
The Telegraph reported that the government was open to channelling money through aid budgets for health and education projects instead of reparations. A Foreign Office official called that report "completely untrue", according to GB News, citing Politico. We have not been able to confirm either version.
The history in three numbers
- 3.1 million Africans were transported by British ships, according to the UK National Archives; about 2.7 million survived the voyage.
- 1807: Parliament banned the British slave trade. 1834: slavery itself was abolished across most of the empire.
- 2006: Tony Blair expressed "deep sorrow" but did not apologise. No UK prime minister has formally apologised since.
Also at the summit
Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese is in Antigua too, and wants Mr Burnham to agree to tighten the rule, from the UK free trade deal, that exempts British backpackers from regional farm work before a second-year visa.
What to watch
The King's speech on Tuesday, the summit's final communiqué on Wednesday, and whether "open to" an apology turns into a date for one.
How we wrote this: our staff read the reporting listed below, checked the facts against more than one source where possible, and wrote this piece in our own words. Anything not confirmed is labelled. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
