️🇬🇧 Reuters: British Prime Minister Burnham said he was open to issuing a formal apology for Britain's historic involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, but ruled out paying financial compensation to affected countries.
Burnham said Britain would have a structured dialogue with countries and communities affected by slavery, arguing that the British population of today should not be held financially responsible for historical injustices. Instead, he proposed debt relief initiatives to help vulnerable Commonwealth countries secure longer repayment periods and lower interest rates.
The announcement comes ahead of next week's Commonwealth of Nations summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where Caribbean leaders are expected to renew demands for restorative justice. The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Brown welcomed the proposed dialogue but claimed that the position of the Caribbean Islands regarding the reparations remained unchanged.