U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that his government will consider apologizing for the first time for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. He emphasized that Britain must face up to the past in an effort to strengthen relations with nations in Africa and the Caribbean.
From the 15th to 19th century, millions of Africans were sold into slavery by European traders, with Britain transporting an estimated 3.2 million people across the Atlantic.
While the Prime Minister is open to a formal apology, he has ruled out financial reparations, asserting that they are not the right answer. This decision persists despite longstanding demands from Caribbean nations.
The issue is expected to be discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting beginning Sunday, where the Prime Minister is likely to face further demands for reparations. While these comments represent a major change in British policy, they are unlikely to satisfy those who hoped that reparations would follow.