Andy Burnham piling pressure on King Charles, Kemi blasts – after PM revealed he is ‘open’ to formal apology for slavery

11 comments 11 Next ANDY Burnham is putting “pressure” on King Charles, Kemi Badenoch has warned, after the Prime Minister said he was “open” to making a formal apology for slavery. The Conservative leader, 46, said the PM “has been putting his foot in his mouth” since he entered Number 10. 4 Kemi Badenoch says the PM is piling pressure on King Charles over the issue of slavery Credit: PA 4 Prime Minister Andy Burnham says in an article that the UK could be ‘open’ to issuing an apology over its role in the slavery trade Credit: PA Advertisement Asked by Sky News if he was embarrassing the monarch, Ms Badenoch replied: “If he starts going in to do things which the sovereign is not doing, I think that he could create pressure.

“I don’t think that this is what our prime minister should be doing.” Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Ms Badenoch has previously hit out at Mr Burnham for altering the government’s stance saying in an article in The Guardian that the UK could be “open” to making a formal apology to members of the Commonwealth affected by slavery in the past.

Despite the government’s shift, King Charles is not expected to apologise. Read More on UK News ROMP OFFER I was invited for THREESOME by minister sprawled on bed, Laura Kuenssberg says FRIGHT NIGHT Halloween revellers don superhero costumes & spooky outfits across the UK 4 The King will address the Commonwealth summit days after acknowledging the ‘great suffering of the past’ in the Bahamas Credit: PA 4 King Charles is not expected to make a formal apology about the slave trade as he tours the Caribbean Credit: PA Ms Badenoch told the news channel that Tony Blair’s statement in 2007 where he spoke of “deep sorrow and regret” for the UK’s role in the slave trade “should suffice”.

She added that Mr Burnham should be focusing on the current problems faced by the country such as ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East as well as “looking at how we can bring the Commonwealth together”. Advertisement Ms Badenoch added that country needed to start looking forwards instead of backwards. She added: “The slave trade happened centuries ago. How are we still talking about it? Most read in The Sun MURDER IN MOSCOW My friend was beaten to death for exposing Putin’s cronies with me TAKE IT BACK Nigel Farage will scrap Army Reserve name and bring back Territorial Army 'WEB OF LIES' Woman stabbed herself & lied about sexual assault to try & ruin man's life FIND THEM Desperate search for three boys, 11, 13 & 15, who suddenly vanished together “There is a lot more that is going on in the world today that needs solving.

“There is slavery today, even in Commonwealth countries. There’s modern slavery. They didn’t want to talk about that. “I wanted to start looking to the future, not the past. And certainly, I was surprised to see Andy Burnham writing that article. You know, the King has gone out there. He’s had a very successful visit. I think it could put some pressure on him.” Advertisement Asked by Sky News’ Fraser Nelson if the PM was attempting to bounce the King, who is currently touring the Caribbean, into a political position on the issue of slavery, Ms Badenoch said: “Honestly, I just don’t think he thought about it.

I don’t think he’s thinking about the repercussions of his actions.” When pushed if the wording by Mr Burnham had probably been agreed with Buckingham Palace, Ms Badenoch said: “I doubt it. Andy Burnham has been putting his foot in his mouth since he became prime minister. “People have been sweeping up the messes that he’s been making, whether on his comments on allowing another Scottish referendum, whether on when he said national security is not as important as social security .

“He just keeps saying things off the top of his head.” She said: “So, if the king gives an apology, would he then be wrong to do so? The king is the sovereign. Advertisement “He is the person who can make a call on that. I don’t think that he is doing that. “What I want to see is our prime minister actually talking about defending this country for once and be the prime minister, not the chief apologiser.” Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds told Times Radio the government was considering making a formal apology over Britain’s role in the slave trade.

She said: “We’ve been very clear that financial reparations are not on the table because the British people today should not be held liable for historic wrongs, but equally the Prime Minister has also said that the government is open to considering a formal apology given what happened hundreds of years ago.” Asked why an apology should be made if people now were not responsible, Ms Reynolds added: “Because I think it is important to acknowledge that what happened hundreds of years ago was a barbaric crime against humanity.

Advertisement “But that is not the same thing as the British people today paying for those reparations. “So financial reparations are off the table, but there is going to be a discussion, and we are open to that, of providing a formal apology, which is something that Commonwealth heads of government have been asking for.” The comments come after a Palace spokesman said the King will confront the issue of slavery with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow”.

The summit in Antigua and Barbuda comes amid repeated calls from Commonwealth member states for the UK to issue a formal apology and pay reparations for the historic slave trade. A UN judge claimed in 2023 the UK likely owes more than £18trillion for its historical role in slavery. Advertisement RECOMMENDED STORIES Courtiers have spent months in delicate negotiations over the slavery issue. The King will address the Commonwealth summit days after acknowledging the “great suffering of the past” in the Bahamas . 11 comments 11