British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed openness to the possibility of the United Kingdom offering formal apologies for its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. As reported by the British broadcaster BBC News, the head of government in London nevertheless categorically rejected the idea of paying financial reparations, arguing that such compensation does not constitute the appropriate response to addressing past responsibilities.

The stance comes on the eve of the Commonwealth leaders' summit in the Caribbean, which Burnham will attend. In recent days, Caribbean countries had renewed their demands for official apologies and economic reparations. Burnham described the trafficking of African slaves as a brutal violation, stating that the country must confront its history head-on.

In a piece for the newspaper The Guardian, the prime minister explained that the contemporary British population cannot be held legally responsible for historical wrongs committed in different eras and regulatory frameworks. The government intends to launch a structured dialogue with the affected nations, regarding listening to requests for state apologies as a central piece of this diplomatic engagement.

According to government sources cited by the broadcaster, the initiative also aims to strengthen Commonwealth cohesion. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, welcomed the openness to dialogue, reaffirming her commitment to reparatory justice, while Denis O'Brien of the Repair Campaign deemed the statements insufficient, urging immediate formal apologies from Downing Street.