UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has dismissed calls for Britain to apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, describing such an apology as a “navel-gazing distraction.”
Badenoch argued that slavery was an evil “in which people from every continent and region participated” and insisted leaders should be honest about the whole history, not just the parts that are politically convenient.
Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday, she also questioned whether future British leaders should even attend the Commonwealth summit, saying the gathering is now dominated by demands for reparations.
Her comments came as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he was considering issuing a formal apology ahead of his trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, in Antigua and Barbuda next week.
In an article for The Guardian, Burnham ruled out financial compensation as reparations but said he was open to helping poorer countries restructure debt on more favourable terms.
Badenoch, however, said an apology was unnecessary, pointing to comments made by former Prime Minister Tony Blair two decades ago.
“The Commonwealth should be looking forward, not endlessly backwards,” she wrote in a social media post.
“If Caribbean countries are asking Britain for a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, will they also be asking the same of the descendants of African kingdoms, rulers and merchants who captured, sold and profited from the trade?” she queried.
She added that Britain should be recognised for its leading role in ending the slave trade.
Speaking to Sky News, Badenoch said any apology would be seen by campaigners as a step towards financial compensation.
“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. We need to start looking at how we can bring the Commonwealth together, start looking forwards, not backwards.
“I don’t think we should be giving any money to compensate people for the slave trade, and I don’t think that Andy Burnham needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash,” she said.
