Burnham ‘open’ to UK slavery apology, but not reparations: Why now?

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said his country is open to apologising for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade but ruled out reparations, which campaigners have for years called for. Burnham wrote in an opinion article in The Guardian on Friday that Britain would also work on debt restructuring for the poorest countries, marking an historic turn in London’s stance. The move comes ahead of a four-day summit starting Sunday of the 50-plus Commonwealth nations formerly colonised by Britain. The UK’s King Charles, who arrived in the Caribbean last week, is hosting the leaders in St John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda.