Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the United Kingdom is "open" to issuing a formal apology for its role in slavery, a move that has drawn criticism from Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch who warned the monarch could face pressure. Burnham, 46, stated that the PM has been "putting his foot in his mouth" since taking office.
Badenoch, speaking to Sky News, said if the Prime Minister "starts going in to do things which the sovereign is not doing", it could create pressure on the King. She added, "I don't think that this is what our prime minister should be doing."
The MP had earlier criticised Burnham for shifting the government's stance, noting that a Guardian article suggested the UK could be "open" to a formal apology to Commonwealth members affected by slavery. Badenoch argued that King Charles is not expected to apologise and that Tony Blair's 2007 statement of "deep sorrow and regret" should suffice.
She urged the government to focus on current issues such as wars in Europe and the Middle East, and to "look at how we can bring the Commonwealth together". Badenoch said the country needs to move forward rather than dwell on the past, noting modern slavery still exists in Commonwealth nations.
When asked by Sky News' Fraser Nelson whether the PM was attempting to push the King, who is touring the Caribbean, into a political stance on slavery, Badenoch replied that the PM likely did not consider the repercussions of his comments. She added that she doubts Burnham had consulted Buckingham Palace before making his remarks.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds told Times Radio that the government is considering a formal apology but has ruled out financial reparations, stating that "the British people today should not be held liable for historic wrongs." She said the apology would be a discussion point, acknowledging that Commonwealth heads of government have been asking for it.
The comments come after a Palace spokesman said the King would confront the slavery issue with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow". The summit in Antigua and Barbuda follows repeated calls from Commonwealth members for the UK to issue an apology and pay reparations. A UN judge in 2023 estimated the UK owes more than £18 trillion for its historical role in slavery. Courtiers have spent months negotiating the issue, and the King will address the Commonwealth summit days after acknowledging the "great suffering of the past" in the Bahamas.
