Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is "open" to calls for Britain to formally apologise for its role in the slave trade, but he has ruled out financial reparations.
Speaking ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean next week, Burnham expressed his personal "sorrow and regret" for the suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade and pledged a "structured dialogue" with those affected.
Prime Minister's Stance on Apology
Writing in The Guardian, Burnham said: "Having these difficult conversations to safeguard the Commonwealth for the future is the right thing to do. It is also the patriotic thing to do."
He added: "Not just because it is in our interests, but because the Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We led the world in abolishing slavery – and we can show leadership again today."
Burnham described the trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation" of individuals "treated as property and worked to their deaths".
"I want to express my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions and to recognise the way it still shapes our world today," he wrote.
Reparations Rejected
Caribbean countries have intensified their calls for Britain to apologise for its part in trafficking enslaved people for financial gain and to pay reparations, during the King's tour of the area.
Burnham stated: "We are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade. 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."
However, he maintained the position of his predecessors and dismissed any notion of reparation payments.
"Some have called for financial reparations for the slave trade. I do not believe that is the right answer. 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," he said.
Alternative Measures Announced
Instead, Burnham pledged to lead a debt-servicing initiative aimed at helping nations repay their debts over a longer period at more favourable rates. Chancellor John Healey, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and former prime minister Gordon Brown will join him at the summit to support this work.
He also confirmed that the UK will support countries in their transition to renewable energy, amplify the voices of smaller nations on the global stage, and back efforts to educate women and girls while tackling poverty and inequality.
Denis O'Brien, founder of The Repair Campaign, which describes itself as a transatlantic movement for reparatory justice for the Caribbean, said: "The British Government must stop obfuscating and give a full and formal apology now. This would be a significant and symbolic first step towards reparatory justice."
He added: "Tonight's statement from the Prime Minister was disappointing, and will not quell the demand for an apology from the 15 Caricom countries in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua next week."
