UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised calls for Britain to apologise for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, describing such a move as a “navel-gazing distraction”.
She argued that slavery was an evil in which people from different parts of the world participated, and urged Commonwealth leaders to focus on the future rather than revisit historical events.
Badenoch made the remarks during interviews with broadcasters on Sunday, amid discussions over whether Britain should issue a formal apology ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda next week.
Her comments followed an indication by Andy Burnham that he was considering making a formal apology before attending the summit.
In an article published by The Guardian, Burnham ruled out financial compensation as a form of reparations but expressed willingness to support efforts to help poorer countries renegotiate their debts under more favourable conditions.
Reacting to the debate, Badenoch insisted that any discussion of the slave trade should account for all those who took part in it, rather than focusing solely on Britain.
“honest about the whole history, not select the parts that are politically convenient today, especially given Britain’s leading role in ending the transatlantic slave trade”.
She also questioned whether Caribbean countries seeking an apology from Britain would make similar demands of African kingdoms and rulers who were involved in capturing and selling enslaved people.
“If Caribbean countries are asking Britain for a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, will they also be asking the same of the descendants of African kingdoms, rulers and merchants who captured, sold and profited from the trade?” she wrote in a social media post.
Badenoch further argued that a previous statement by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, made about two decades ago, had already addressed the issue, making another apology unnecessary.
“The Commonwealth should be looking forward, not endlessly backwards,” she posted.
Speaking to Sky News, the Conservative leader expressed concern that an apology could be used by campaigners as a basis for demanding financial compensation.
“What I’m worried about is that this Chogm summit is yet another opportunity for people to start asking Britain for money because of the slave trade. We need to start looking at how we can bring the Commonwealth together – start looking forwards, not backwards.
“I don’t think we should be giving any money to compensate people for the slave trade, and I don’t think that Andy Burnham needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor John Healey said it would be unfair to impose the financial burden of reparations on present-day British citizens, arguing that they had no part in the historical slave trade.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Healey said Prime Minister Keir Starmer was open to discussions about a possible apology ahead of the Commonwealth gathering.
“The prime minister has said, look, we are open to a discussion about an apology. He feels that that’s the right thing, particularly ahead of the Commonwealth leaders’ conference,” he said.
“But he doesn’t believe that reparations are the right approach, and considering a formal apology doesn’t mean accepting that British people now should accept the financial liability for any part in things that happened hundreds of years ago, in which they had no role.”
