Left-wing members of Parliament are increasing pressure on Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, over the issue of slavery reparations, following his suggestion that an official apology from the British state could be possible. Burnham's comments come as the UK Prime Minister heads to a Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where the topic is expected to be prominent.
Burnham indicated a potential shift in the UK's stance over the weekend, stating his desire for a "structured dialogue" with those affected by historical slavery. In an opinion piece for The Guardian, he wrote, "Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process. I am open to them." He rejected calls for direct financial reparations, instead floating alternatives such as debt write-offs and downgrades in financial aid, while also suggesting the government might fund health and education projects in Commonwealth states from existing aid budgets.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who chairs the all-party Parliamentary group on Afrikan Reparations, asserted that an apology must precede "concrete steps" to address the UK state's responsibility. She clarified that this demand is not for individual Britons to take responsibility but for the state that "protected and profited from it." According to Ribeiro-Addy, reparations are an "ongoing process of repair that must begin with an apology."
Senior Labour backbencher Meg Hillier noted that discussions on reparations are ongoing, pointing to a recent UN motion on the subject that the UK did not oppose but abstained from. "This is a very live discussion," she told the BBC's Westminster Hour, emphasizing that reparations involve "working together" rather than just financial transactions, drawing a parallel to economic benefits within European integration.
Green MP Carla Denyer called for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for Truth and Reparatory Justice to address the transatlantic slave trade, which she described as the "gravest crime against humanity." She argued that the wealth of the United Kingdom was founded on this crime and its legacies persist today.
Conversely, Conservative and Reform party members have dismissed the idea of compensation for historical injustices. Shadow frontbencher Ben Obese-Jecty suggested that UK funding for health and education in Commonwealth countries could fulfill the demands of the reparatory justice movement as outlined in the CARICOM 10-point plan.
Burnham's comments have sparked speculation about whether King Charles III, as head of the Commonwealth, might address the issue during his keynote speech at the summit. However, royal sources indicated that the Palace was informed of Burnham's remarks in a timely manner and no adjustments to the King's schedule or speech are necessary. A Number 10 source echoed this, stating the Palace was aware of Burnham's words through usual dialogue with the government.