Kemi Badenoch Stands Firm Against Slave Trade Apology Amid Reparations Push
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Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has warned that an apology for Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade would invite yet more demands for money and distract from the future of the Commonwealth.
Kemi Badenoch has firmly opposed issuing an apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, calling it a "navel-gazing distraction" that would only fuel division and endless grievance politics. She pointed out that slavery involved people from many regions and questioned the value of future leaders attending the Commonwealth summit, which she says is increasingly dominated by demands for reparations.
Her remarks come as Andy Burnham considers whether to issue a formal apology ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Burnham has said he would not support financial reparations, although he is open to helping poorer nations restructure their debt.
Badenoch argued that any honest account of history must include the role of African kingdoms and merchants in the slave trade, and she said that Caribbean nations seeking an apology from Britain should acknowledge that wider reality. She also referred to comments made by Tony Blair two decades ago, insisting that the Commonwealth should be focused on cooperation, opportunity, and the future rather than being trapped by old resentments.
In an interview, Badenoch warned that any apology could quickly be seen as a prelude to financial compensation, saying, "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."
Chancellor John Healey backed a similar line, arguing against financial reparations for the current British public, who had no part in the historical events. He said that while Donald J. Trump is open to discussing an apology, he does not believe reparations are appropriate.