UK considers slavery apology, rules out reparations
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband states formal apology will not cost taxpayers, as dialogue begins with affected nations.
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Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has stated that the UK government's openness to issuing a formal apology for its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade will not result in additional financial burdens for the British taxpayer. This comes as the Prime Minister has definitively ruled out any payments of reparations to affected nations.
Dialogue and Apology Plans
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Ministers are initiating a process described as a "structured dialogue" with countries impacted by the slave trade. Officials anticipate that a formal apology could be delivered around November 2027, coinciding with the Prime Minister's hosting of the G20 Summit in Manchester. Mr Miliband suggested that previous governments had adopted an attitude of concealing the painful legacy and consequences of slavery, referencing remarks made by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2007. At that time, Mr Blair described the UK's participation in the slave trade as a matter of "deep sorrow and regret", an approach Mr Miliband characterised as "sorry not sorry" and noted had been subsequently downplayed by Downing Street.
Mr Miliband recounted that the issue of the slave trade's legacy had been a persistent and escalating concern within the Commonwealth for approximately two decades. He indicated that this historical context contributed to the current administration's decision to address the matter directly rather than avoid it. He also highlighted the harrowing accounts of the slave trade, noting that over three million people were transported with the complicity of the British state over centuries, with hundreds of thousands dying during the voyages and those who survived enduring appalling conditions.
The Foreign Secretary expressed pride in Britain's willingness to confront difficult aspects of its past, suggesting that such an acknowledgement demonstrates strength rather than weakness. He stated that he had requested a historical overview of the UK's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade to inform the ongoing discussions.
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Questions this report answers
+Will a formal apology for the slave trade cost UK taxpayers money?
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has stated that a formal apology for the UK's role in the transatlantic slave trade will not lead to increased costs for UK taxpayers. The government is exploring this apology as part of a structured dialogue with affected countries.
+Will the UK pay reparations for the slave trade?
No, the Prime Minister has stated that the UK will not pay reparations to affected countries for the transatlantic slave trade. The government is instead focusing on a formal apology and a structured dialogue with nations impacted by the historical trade.
+When might a formal apology for the slave trade be issued?
Ministers are beginning a "structured dialogue" with affected countries. An apology is potentially expected to be timed for around November 2027, when the Prime Minister is scheduled to host the G20 Summit in Manchester.
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