UK: PM Burnham Says He Is Open to Formal Apology for Slavery but Rules Out Reparations
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain's historical role in slavery, Reuters reported on October 31, ahead of next week's Commonwealth summit at which he is likely to face demands for financial reparations, while ruling out such payments.
Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Burnham said Britain was offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade, in which at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery. But he rejected calls for financial reparations, writing that he did not think 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.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, a spokesperson for King Charles said he will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during his visit. A senior Buckingham Palace aide said the King continues to receive treatment for cancer but is working as hard as ever, with packed schedules across time zones.
Burnham also wrote that he wanted to launch a new drive on debt, including helping more vulnerable countries repay over a longer period and with better rates. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed Burnham's comments and proposals for practical assistance, while noting in a Facebook post the Caribbean's longstanding position on reparations.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 照片：加纳埃尔米纳城堡奴隶贸易纪念牌，Kurt Dundy 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0 授权 / Photo: slave trade memorial plaque at Elmina Castle, Ghana, by Kurt Dundy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
