Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has backed Andy Burnham as the Prime Minister considers a formal apology for Britain's role in the slave trade. The Labour leader said he was "open" to calls for an official apology on behalf of the state before he flew to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Caribbean.
Miliband's Statement
The Foreign Secretary said: "Transatlantic slavery was a horrific chapter in our history. It was a brutal and barbaric violation of the humanity of millions, the legacy of which is still felt by so many today. We can't change the past, but we can face it with honesty, listen to those whose countries and communities continue to feel its legacy, including in Britain, and build stronger relationships for the future."
He added: "That's why the Prime Minister has committed to establishing a formal, structured dialogue with Caribbean and African partners, overseas territories, and affected communities in Britain. This will allow us to discuss the history and ongoing legacy of transatlantic slavery, including the question of a formal apology, which we, the British Government, are open to."
Dialogue and Apology
Miliband said: "We in Britain are rightly proud of our nation's great history, and true patriotism comes from having the confidence to talk about difficult chapters in our past. We are strong enough, we are self-confident enough, to have this conversation."
The question of a formal apology will be a major part of the dialogue, with Miliband noting: "Of course, a formal apology would be a significant step, and we think it's right to discuss that properly with the countries and communities most affected. And the dialogue we're setting up will consider whether and how a formal apology could help acknowledge the history, help heal the division, and support stronger relationships for the future."
Reparations Ruled Out
However, Miliband said the Government does not believe that financial reparations are the "right or feasible answer to transatlantic slavery." He added: "We don't think the right response is to ask British taxpayers today to make financial payments for these historic acts. We do, however, want to focus on meaningful, practical cooperation, which includes educational and cultural exchange, and how we can work together on the mutual issues of climate resilience, development, and economic opportunity."
Conservative Response
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Burnham's consideration of a formal apology is a "navel-gazing distraction." She said slavery was "an evil in which people from every continent and region participated" and argued the Commonwealth should be "looking forwards, not backwards" at the summit in Antigua and Barbuda next week.
She pointed to the intervention by Sir Tony Blair, who in 2006 expressed "deep sorrow and regret" over the UK's involvement in the slave trade but stopped short of a full apology, in arguing that Britain has already confronted its history.
