John Healey rejects slavery reparations calls as Antigua PM wades into row moments after Charles assembly

John Healey said discussions of an apology from the UK for its role in the transatlantic trade in enslaved people did not mean taxpayers should be left on the hook centuries later

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British people should not be hit financially for reparations when they had “no role” in the slave trade, the Chancellor has said.

John Healey said discussions of an apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade did not mean taxpayers should be left on the hook.

It comes after Andy Burnham opened the door to a formal apology for slavery this weekend ahead of his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) this week. But he rejected calls from some Caribbean countries for financial compensation for the consequences of the vile trade of millions of enslaved Africans.

Mr Healey told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “The Prime Minister has said, look, we are open to a discussion about an apology. He feels that that’s the right thing, particularly ahead of the Commonwealth leaders’ conference.

“But he doesn’t believe that reparations are the right approach, and considering a formal apology doesn’t mean accepting that British people now should accept the financial liability for any part in things that happened hundreds of years ago, in which they had no role.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the move, saying an apology would be “a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash”. She told Sky News: “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.”

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey backed the PM’s stance, telling TimesRadio: “I don’t think we should pay reparations at all, but I do have some sympathy with the idea that an apology makes sense. I’d like to see what the Government’s going to say about that, but it’s good that they’re considering it.”

In an interview with ITV News, Antiguan Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, insisted UK must continue to pay reparations for its role in the slavery despite Andy Burnham’s change of approach on an apology.

Browne also lashed out at Kemi Badenoch after she said UK should stop apologising for the past, saying : “no wonder she is the leader of the Opposition and not the Prime Minister.”

The King is Antigua’s head of state but Mr Browne reiterated his view that an Antiguan should replace the British monarch in the role.

Within an hour of the King and the Mr Browne attending a Sunday church service celebrating the Commonwealth, the PM told ITV News: “I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that just does not negate the need for reparations.

“If there’s no compensation, there’s likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future, and you can see what is happening globally already.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will face a growing row when he lands in Antigua on Monday, where he will join King Charles for the summit. Recriminations over the slave trade have threatened to overshadow the King’s tour of the region.

Mr Burnham broke with the Government’s longstanding position this weekend to say he is open to discussions on an apology for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. He described the sale of enslaved Africans to the Americas, as a “brutal and barbaric violation” and said Britain must “face up to the past”.

Going further than his predecessors, Mr Burnham said: “Having these difficult conversations to safeguard the Commonwealth for the future is the right thing to do. It is also the patriotic thing to do.

“Not just because it is in our interests, but because the Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We led the world in abolishing slavery – and we can show leadership again today.

“So we are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade. Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them.”

But he rejected the idea of paying reparations, saying it was not right for British people to be liable for “historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part”.

The King was joined in Antigua by the Queen on Sunday, for the final leg of his Caribbean tour, which has seen him travel to The Bahamas and Guyana last week. The tour has been dominated by calls from world leaders, campaigners and activists for the King to apologise for Britain and the monarchy’s role in the slave trade, as well as respond to demands for billions of pounds in reparations.

Buckingham Palace admitted the King was walking a “diplomatic tightrope”, which he is well versed in.

Royal sources appeared to confirm that the King would not follow Mr Burnham’s lead in issuing an apology for Britain’s – or the monarchy’s – historic role in the slave trade, saying that the Government’s agenda would remain the priority at Chogm. A palace insider insisted there would be “no surprises” in Charles’s speech on Tuesday.

Eyebrows have been raised over the PM’s decision to raise the prospect of an apology ahead of the summit – with royal sources suggesting Buckingham Palace was not part of a lengthy consultation or collaboration process with Downing Street. The Palace instead said it was informed of Mr Burnham’s planned announcement “in a timely manner”.

No10 insisted the Palace had been kept in the loop about the PM’s plans, with a source saying: “We have not blindsided the King on this.”

The PM’s comments were designed to mark a “tonal shift” on the fraught issue of slavery. The insider said: “We’re not going in with the intention of dictating to these countries what they want, other than being clear about our red lines on reparations.”

Downing Street is also determined to avoid a repeat of the last Chogm summit in 2024, where Keir Starmer is said to have felt ambushed on the issue.

The King will speak about the issue of slavery with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” in a speech to open the meeting on Tuesday – but is not expected to offer an apology.

A spokesman for the King said: “The King will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during this Visit. You may therefore expect him to address them in his speech with unflinching honesty, sincere sorrow, and respect for the wider discussions that will be taking place between relevant governments on this issue at CHOGM and beyond.

“He will be speaking at CHOGM in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth. It would not be appropriate for him to address matters of particular policy relating to the UK Government’s position.”