Andy Burnham opens door for formal transatlantic slave trade apology

Andy Burnham has opened the door to a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade.But the Prime Minister has ruled out reparations, saying that today's Britons could not be "held liable for historical wrongs".The Prime Minister, who is due to attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean next week, expressed his personal "sorrow and regret" for the suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade.Writing in The Guardian, he said: "Having these difficult conversations to safeguard the Commonwealth for the future is the right thing to do. It is also the patriotic thing to do. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "Not just because it is in our interests, but because the Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We led the world in abolishing slavery – and we can show leadership again today."Caribbean nations have poured on pressure for Britain to apologise for its role in the slave trade as King Charles tours the region.The Prime Minister added: "So we are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade."Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them."Mr Burnham also laid out his reasons to reject calls for reparations - a long-standing position by the Government, which was recently reinforced by Labour's Business Secretary.He continued: "Some have called for financial reparations for the slave trade. I do not believe that is the right answer."I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part."Just last week, the Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said it "wouldn't hurt" to have a formal apology given by King Charles.REPARATIONS CALLS - READ MORE:Royal Navy sailors gave their lives fighting the slave trade. King Charles has nothing to apologise forKing Charles's Caribbean tour 'not defined' by reparations as Guyana's President issues statementKing Charles warned 'don’t come empty-handed' ahead of Caribbean tour amid slavery reparations demandsRalph Gonsalves, a leading figure calling for reparations, told The Guardian that an apology was only the first step in the Caribbean community's 10-point reparations plan, and, while "necessary, is insufficient".The former Mayor of Greater Manchester also said he would follow in the footsteps of cotton workers in his home city, who in 1862 voted to no longer handle slave-picked cotton.He said: "It is so often the case in British history that huge injustices ignored by the powers-that-be are eventually overturned by ordinary people."Those Manchester cotton workers represent that proud British tradition, and I will take inspiration from them as we go forward into our new dialogue."Chancellor John Healey, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and former prime minister Gordon Brown will join him at the summit to help with this work, he said.He said the UK will also support countries with the transition to renewable energy amid a "climate crisis", give smaller countries a louder voice on the world stage, and build on work to educate women and girls.Denis O'Brien, founder of The Repair Campaign, which describes itself as a transatlantic movement for reparatory justice for the Caribbean, said: "The British Government must stop obfuscating and give a full and formal apology now. This would be a significant and symbolic first step towards reparatory justice."Tonight's statement from the Prime Minister was disappointing, and will not quell the demand for an apology from the 15 Caricom countries in advance of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua next week." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter