British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK was open to discussing a formal slavery apology with Commonwealth countries while maintaining its rejection of reparations, supporting Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s proposed dialogue.
Burnham has proposed structured talks with Commonwealth countries about the wording of an apology. Miliband said the dialogue would not add costs for UK taxpayers or change the country’s position on reparations.
In an interview on BBC’s Newscast podcast, Miliband said some people felt Britain had avoided confronting its history. He also said former Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed sorrow in 2006 but did not formally apologize.
Asked whether an apology could be agreed by the time Britain hosts the G20 leaders’ summit in Manchester next November, Miliband replied, “Broadly speaking, yes.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has argued that a state apology could prompt compensation claims. She made that case in an X post as the Commonwealth summit opened, as EconoTimes previously reported.
