Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that paying reparations for slavery is "not feasible" for the country, despite growing calls for compensation following King Charles III's expression of remorse. During a BBC interview aired on Wednesday, Miliband said, “It’s not the right answer. It’s not practical. It’s not feasible for us, but there are things we can work on cooperatively.” He further clarified that London would not “shift our position on reparations.”
Miliband did, however, hint that the UK might issue a formal apology for its role in the slave trade next year during a G20 leaders’ summit. When asked if the UK could reach that point by the meeting in Manchester next November, Miliband replied, “Broadly speaking, yes.” He insisted that such an apology would not lead to financial compensation.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Andy Burnham proposed a “debt reset” plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries, which could potentially alter interest rates on repayments. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Burnham said, “I’ve been very clear that we do not support reparations … but it’s not the case that we don’t support countries in the Commonwealth around development helping them with debt issues that they’ve got.”
In a piece for The Guardian on Friday, Burnham addressed the calls for financial reparations, stating, “I do not believe that is the right answer.” He added, “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.” Burnham noted he would have “difficult conversations” to protect the future of the Commonwealth.
The UK's role in slavery has historically strained relations with former colonies. During a 2024 Commonwealth meeting in Samoa, countries supported talks over reparatory justice after Britain, under Keir Starmer’s leadership, attempted to avoid the issue. Burnham’s current approach has faced domestic criticism from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and the right-wing press.
King Charles III expressed "horror" at slavery, calling it a "monstrous injustice" that "still casts a shadow over these islands and other members" of the 56-nation group. While he went further than previous royals, he stopped short of a formal apology and emphasized Britain's role in eventually abolishing slavery. The King and Queen Camilla are scheduled to depart Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday to conclude their nine-day Caribbean tour.
