Andy Burnham has sparked a debate over slavery reparations after opening the door to a formal apology by the UK, raising fears that British taxpayers could foot the bill.
The Prime Minister is holding talks with Commonwealth nations on an official apology on behalf of the state. He has already agreed to hand over £40 million in new aid funding to Caribbean countries but has insisted he won't pay direct compensation for Britain's historic role in the slave trade.
Reform UK warns of 'reparations by stealth'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned Mr Burnham's scheme is "reparations by stealth". He said: "Now he's talking about spending potentially tens, if not hundreds, of millions of your taxpayer pounds on foreign 'reparations' for the 500-year-old transatlantic slave trade.
"It sounds like a sick joke. Because in many ways it is."
He added: "It's reparations by stealth, and it comes at a steep price for people already struggling with current prices, inflation, and tax rates. It's another kick in the teeth for the ordinary Briton."
Tory leader warns apology would make UK 'look weak'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned that a formal apology would make Britain "look weak". She said: "The purpose of the apology is to make us look weak. It is to make this country look weak. And once we start looking weak, then we have every man and his dog making demands and sending us an invoice, which the British taxpayer has to pay.
"We don't have money for that anymore. We are running out of money. The little we have is being spent on welfare. Anyone who thinks that an apology is serious trade and economic policy is just not serious."
Foreign Secretary insists taxpayers won't pay more
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband insisted British taxpayers will not pay a penny more as a result of the PM's "new approach" to the Commonwealth.
Speaking to BBC Newscast, he criticised what he described as a "sorry, not sorry" from Sir Tony Blair, who in 2006 expressed "deep sorrow and regret" for Britain's involvement in the slave trade but stopped short of an official apology.
