UK agrees to talks on harms of the transatlantic slave trade - but PM rules out reparations

The UK has agreed to engage in "structured, time-bound, inclusive and good-faith" talks that address the "historical harms" of the transatlantic slave trade, Commonwealth leaders have said. <p>In a joint statement, they said the time had come for a "meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity".</p><p>It comes after <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/andy-burnham-6817/1" target="_self"><strong>Andy Burnham</strong></a>, who has been at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda alongside <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/the-king-10355/1" target="_self"><strong>the King</strong></a>, said Britain was "open" to making a formal apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade - but ruled out the prospect of paying financial reparations.</p><p>The joint statement said: "We welcome the agreement of the government of the United Kingdom to engage in a structured, time-bound, inclusive and good-faith dialogue with affected parties addressing the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and its historical harms."</p><p>Officials said the timeframe for the process would be agreed at a later date, although Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has indicated it would likely conclude within 12 months.</p><widget id="2"></widget><p>Mr Burnham has faced calls from leaders of African and Caribbean <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/commonwealth-6453/1" target="_self"><strong>Commonwealth</strong></a> nations to pay reparations for the long-term impacts of slavery.</p><p>The prime minister has said he has "been very clear that we do not support reparations", but has set out plans for a "debt reset" aimed at helping poorer countries struggling with repayments to borrowers.</p><p>He has argued that work to support member states amid a rise in global interest rate costs must include non-G7 donors and the private sector.</p><p>About half of developing countries struggling with debt are in the Commonwealth, which comprises mostly former British colonies and encompasses some 2.7 billion people.</p> <widget id="3"></widget><p>Mr Burnham has also announced that the UK will allocate £40m over three years to help support infrastructure investment, including green energy in the Caribbean.</p><p>He insisted the money would come from existing budgets, with Mr Miliband saying UK taxpayers will not have to pay more as a result of Mr Burnham's "new approach" to the Commonwealth.</p><p><strong>More from Sky News:</strong><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/british-citizen-tests-positive-for-ebola-foreign-office-says-13607278" target="_self"><strong>Briton with Ebola to be treated in the UK</strong></a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/health-checks-offered-to-wigan-residents-near-one-of-englands-worst-illegal-waste-sites-13608060" target="_self"><strong>Health checks for residents near illegal waste site</strong></a></p> <widget id="4"></widget><p><strong>A 'shameful chapter of history'</strong></p><p>Speaking at the summit earlier this week, the King said the transatlantic slave trade was a "shameful chapter of history", adding that it "fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow".</p><p>Mr Burnham, <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/king-arrives-in-antigua-and-barbuda-as-burnham-open-to-slavery-apology-13606019">writing in The Guardian on Friday</a></strong>, also expressed his "sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions" affected by slavery.</p><p>However, he said he did not think the British people should "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>Conservative leader <a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/kemi-badenoch-10252/1" target="_self"><strong>Kemi Badenoch</strong></a> has warned that even an apology could lead to renewed calls for compensation and be used as "a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash".</p>