Kemi Badenoch says Britain should not issue apology over slave trade, calling it a distraction

Badenoch rejects apology calls

Badenoch described an apology for Britain’s part in the transatlantic slave trade as a “navel-gazing distraction”. She said slavery was an evil in which people from every continent and region took part.

She urged leaders to address the full history rather than choose politically convenient parts, and highlighted Britain’s leading role in ending the trade. Badenoch also said the Commonwealth should focus on the future, citing comments Tony Blair made two decades ago as a reason an apology was unnecessary.

Compensation concerns raised

Badenoch said she opposed paying compensation for the slave trade. She argued that an apology from Burnham could become a means of opening the way to demands for money.

Burnham has said he is considering a formal apology for Britain’s role. He is due to travel to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda next week.

Healey says discussion is open

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Chancellor John Healey said it would be unfair to make British people pay reparations when they had no role in the slave trade. Healey said the prime minister was open to discussing an apology and considered it appropriate to do so ahead of the Commonwealth leaders’ conference.