Burnham 'open' to slavery apology - as King continues Caribbean tour

Andy Burnham has said he is "open" to calls for Britain to make a formal apology for its role in the slave trade as the King continues his tour of the Caribbean. <p>The prime minister is due to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda - as is the <a href="http://news.sky.com/topic/the-king-10355/1"><strong>King</strong></a> who, as the head of the "family of nations", will preside over the event.</p><p>Charles will give the opening address to national representatives of the 56 member states on Tuesday.</p><p>His speech is likely to echo the government's changed position on the legacy of slavery, the Press Association reports.</p><p>Ahead of his nine-day trip, it was understood ministers had not advised the King to offer an apology or reparations, in keeping with established policy.</p><p>But a formal apology is now potentially closer following comments made by <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/andy-burnham-6817/1" target="_self"><strong>Mr Burnham</strong></a> to the Guardian on Friday.</p><widget id="8"></widget><p><strong>More from Sky News:<br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/video/should-the-manosphere-be-deemed-a-public-health-risk-13605811" target="_self">Is the 'manosphere' as dangerous as smoking?</a> </strong><br /><strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/yorkshire-water-boss-resigns-after-company-given-lowest-environmental-rating-13605746" target="_self">Yorkshire Water boss resigns</a></strong></p><p>The prime minister wrote: "We are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade.</p><p>"Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process and I am open to them."</p><p>Mr Burnham expressed his "sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions" but ruled out financial reparations.</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>He wrote: "Some have called for financial reparations for the slave trade.

I do not believe that is the right answer.</p><p>"I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part."</p><p>The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, said in a post on X: "Barbados welcomes the UK prime minister's acknowledgement of the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade, his openness to a formal apology and his offer of structured dialogue."</p><p>Jamaica's prime minister, Andrew Holness, said of Mr Burnham's comments: "Open-minded dialogue is always a good place to start addressing difficult issues."</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>Caribbean nations again urged Britain to apologise for its role in selling enslaved people, and for reparations, in the lead-up to the King's Caribbean tour.</p><p>Before leaving Guyana on Friday, the King visited Independence Park in the capital, Georgetown, where 33 people involved in the Demerara Rebellion of 1823 were hanged.</p><p>He was joined by Guyana's culture minister Steven Jacobs to acknowledge the country's history of slavery and resistance.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>Charles started his Caribbean trip last Tuesday with a speech at a youth rally in the Bahamas, where he commented on the "great suffering of the past".</p><p>Prior to the visit, Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the King had recognised slavery as the darkest moments in human history, but an apology would be "the next step".</p>