Britain should not issue apology over slave trade, says Kemi Badenoch
Tory leader says apology would be ‘navel-gazing distraction’ and would be used as lever for financial compensation Kemi Badenoch has said an apology for Britain’s role in the trans
By The Guardian
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Britain should not issue a new apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Speaking to broadcasters, Ms Badenoch described the prospect of a formal apology as a “navel-gazing distraction”. She said it could lead to further demands for financial compensation.
Ms Badenoch argued that former prime minister Tony Blair had already expressed “deep sorrow and regret” over Britain’s involvement in the slave trade in 2006. She said there was “no need” for another formal apology.
She also said slavery was an evil in which “people from every continent and region participated”. Ms Badenoch questioned whether Caribbean countries seeking an apology from Britain would also seek one from the descendants of African kingdoms, rulers and merchants involved in capturing, selling and profiting from enslaved people.
The Conservative leader said the Commonwealth should be “looking forward, not backwards”. She questioned whether future Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings would be worth the effort if discussions continued to focus on reparations.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to discussing a formal apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade, while ruling out financial reparations.
Ms Badenoch said an apology could act as “a lever” for demands for money. She added that British taxpayers should not be held financially responsible for events that happened generations ago.
The issue is expected to feature prominently at the next Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean.