Andy Burnham should be Britain's greatest defender instead of backing those saying our country is stained, warns Katie Lam

Andy Burnham should be Britain's greatest defender instead of backing those saying our country is stained This is the reality of modern-day Britain's role in addressing the horrors of the slave trade Sign up to the Opinion Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Last week, the Prime Minister decided to weigh in on Britain’s historic role in the slave trade, revealing that he was “open” to issuing a formal apology. Almost every culture has, at some point in time, participated in the keeping or selling of slaves.

Britain was no exception to that. It is shameful, and we must tell the truth about it. However, the slave trade is not something that the British people of today had any role in and, while it is important not to ignore our ancestors’ involvement, modern-day Britons should in no way be made to feel responsible. Britain was one of the first countries in the world to step forward and take responsibility for its role in the reprehensible slave trade.

We abolished both the practice of slavery and the slave trade itself, and went on, rightly and proudly, to do penance for our part in both. Andy Burnham should be Britain's greatest defender instead of backing those saying our country is stained | GETTY TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Between 1808 and 1867, the West Africa Squadron of the Royal Navy patrolled the Bight of Benin, in an effort to intercept slave ships. Over the course of the Squadron’s activities, almost 1,600 sailors died, and about 150,000 Africans were freed.

Similar initiatives, all across the world, freed thousands more. And during the life of the British abolitionist movement, an estimated 1.7 million people signed petitions targeting the slave trade and slavery. In other words, a far greater number of people in Britain today are descended from passionate abolitionists than are descended of those who profited directly from this awful trade. The opposition to this great evil amongst the British people is almost entirely unprecedented.

And the British state has, too, worked for years to right the wrongs of the past. At the Congress of Vienna, where the great powers met to discuss what Europe would look like after Napoleon’s defeat, it was the British delegation who fought hardest to force Europe’s empires to adopt a resolution which condemned the slave trade. Back in 1840, in his first ever public address in England, Prince Albert restated Britain’s unwavering commitment to taking on those who were continuing the “atrocious traffic in human beings”.

Less than twenty years ago, Tony Blair expressed Britain’s deep sorrow and regret for our role in the slave trade. This is the reality of modern-day Britain's role in addressing the horrors of the slave trade. As Kemi Badenoch so rightly said last week, as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham should be Britain’s greatest defender. Instead, he’s on the side of those who believe that our country is fundamentally stained by its past – including the leaders of other countries, many of whom are cynically demanding reparations in an effort to feather their own nests.

Our historic role in slavery was awful, but that is no reflection on the British people of today. No good can come from this constant navel-gazing about our country’s past, particularly when we tell only one side of the story. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Opinion Britain must tell Caribbean nations demanding slavery reparations NO – Andy Burnham's intervention is a disgrace Opinion Labour's chilling Orwellian legislation could backfire on the women it is supposed to protect Opinion Andy Burnham has given reparations campaigners exactly what they wanted – and Britain could pay the price Opinion Andy Burnham must follow Donald Trump's lead and slam Britain's door shut as 10,000 migrants arrive Opinion I’ve toured America ahead of the midterms – and there’s one thing that could decide Donald Trump’s fate Opinion Alastair Stewart: Memories, Friendship and a Week of Reflections Opinion GB News spent a week listening to Britain and the message to Westminster is clear Opinion Labour is failing women in towns like Middlesbrough and £15m won't make them safer Opinion Andy Burnham and John Healey have already run out of ideas – and Britain is paying the price Opinion Britain cannot defend itself with John Healey's empty promises and wishful thinking Opinion Donald Trump’s border chief has exposed the main flaw in Britain’s border policy Opinion Andy Burnham's U-turn on EU free movement may prove irreparable with working-class voters Analysis Opinion How King Charles navigated the slavery question on his Bahamas visit Opinion Israel’s election won’t change the fundamentals of war and peace in the Middle East Opinion A whopping £1.75 a month in supermarket savings?

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