Britain has agreed to engage in "structured, time-bound, inclusive and good-faith" talks with Commonwealth nations to address the "historical harms" of the transatlantic slave trade, according to a joint statement from a Caribbean summit. The move, announced by minister Andy Burnham, fuels ongoing discussions about the legacy of slavery and potential reparations.
Leaders from the Commonwealth nations stated that the time has come for a "meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity." Burnham, attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua, met with leaders from Ghana and Barbados, who have been prominent in advocating for reparations.
While Burnham has stated there is no prospect of direct financial reparations from the UK, he has committed £40 million to infrastructure improvements in the Caribbean over the next three years. This initiative aims to address economic disparities exacerbated by historical injustices.
King Charles, who also attended the summit, addressed the legacy of slavery, calling it a "shameful chapter of history" that fills him with "horror and profound personal sorrow."
The communique released at the end of CHOGM welcomed the UK's agreement to a dialogue. This marks a shift from previous UK stances, where the government resisted calls for an apology and focused on the future of the Commonwealth.
Ed Miliband, also present at the event, suggested the Labour government might issue a formal apology by the time it hosts the G20 leaders' summit in Manchester. He criticized past governments for tending to "sweep under the carpet" the issue of slavery and sought to avoid the "verbal punch-up" that characterized the last summit.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged against issuing an apology, arguing it could open the door for demands for reparations. "I don't think we should be giving any money to compensate people for the slave trade, and I don't think that Andy Burnham needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash," she stated.
Leaders from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) expressed readiness to engage in the dialogue. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, indicated that Caribbean nations would not make "unreasonable demands" and praised Burnham for showing "courage and goodwill."