Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK could issue a formal apology for its role in the trans‑Atlantic slave trade, writing in The Guardian on Saturday.
He called for a structured dialogue with affected Commonwealth members and said the government would consider a formal apology, while rejecting calls for reparations.
Burnham also pledged to address debt burdens, offering to work with wealthier nations to extend repayment periods and lower interest rates for vulnerable Commonwealth economies.
His remarks come as Britain seeks to deepen ties with the 56‑nation Commonwealth amid global economic, environmental and security challenges.
Burnham will visit Antigua and Barbuda next week for a Commonwealth leaders’ meeting, a move seen as a step toward reconciling historical grievances. Local activist Maya Singh, whose grandfather was trafficked, welcomed the dialogue.
The call follows earlier protests, such as the 2020 removal of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol, and the growing pressure from younger voters for Britain to confront its colonial past.