British political figures have voiced differing opinions on whether the United Kingdom should offer an official apology or reparations for its historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled next week in Antigua and Barbuda.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticized calls for a formal apology, describing such gestures as “navel-gazing distractions” that risk portraying Britain as weak and opening the door to demands for financial compensation. Badenoch argued that slavery was a global atrocity involving various regions and peoples, including African kingdoms and merchants who participated in the trade. She also emphasized Britain’s role in abolishing the slave trade and urged leaders to focus on the future rather than revisiting historical grievances. Badenoch expressed concern that if an apology were issued, campaigners might interpret it as a step toward reparations paid by British taxpayers. She further suggested that Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s openness to an apology sets a problematic tone ahead of King Charles’s upcoming address at the summit, potentially pressuring the monarch, who retains the sovereign authority to decide on such matters.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated he is open to issuing a formal apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade but has ruled out financial reparations, stating that current generations should not bear financial responsibility for actions committed centuries ago. Burnham has proposed engaging Commonwealth countries in discussions to enhance economic support, including debt restructuring to allow poorer nations more favorable repayment terms. While expressing “sorrow and regret” for Britain’s actions, he has positioned the apology as a move to strengthen relationships within the Commonwealth rather than admitting liability.

This stance has received mixed reactions. Chancellor John Healey supported the idea of an apology but reassured the public that it would not involve reparations, reinforcing that the British people today had no involvement in the historical slave trade. Treasury minister Emma Reynolds echoed this viewpoint, highlighting the symbolic power of an apology and acknowledging the longstanding British abolitionist efforts. On the other hand, some Commonwealth leaders and campaigners advocate for tangible reparations. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, has called for Britain to pay reparations and criticized Badenoch’s opposition. Barbados’s Prime Minister Mia Mottley has led efforts to promote a reparations manifesto within the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, Sir Donald McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, cautioned against outright rejection of reparations, suggesting that improving ties through trade and education could be a constructive path forward. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, however, rejected financial compensation proposals, deeming it inappropriate to hold today’s taxpayers accountable for historical injustices.

As the CHOGM summit approaches, the debate over apology and reparations continues to be a significant and sensitive issue, reflecting broader discussions about history, responsibility, and the future of the Commonwealth relationship.