Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has dismissed the possibility of paying reparations for its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, calling such payments "not feasible" and "not the right answer." In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, he said London would not "shift our position on reparations," but hinted that a formal apology could be forthcoming.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, Miliband told the BBC that while reparations were off the table, there were "things we can work on co-operatively." He added that Britain might issue a long-demanded formal apology for its involvement in slavery when it hosts the G20 leaders' summit in Manchester next November. Asked whether the UK could reach that point by then, he said: "Broadly speaking, yes." However, he insisted that an apology would not open the door to financial compensation.
Debt reset proposal
At the same summit, Prime Minister Andy Burnham floated a "debt reset" plan aimed at the poorest Commonwealth countries, which could alter interest rates on their repayments. Burnham told reporters on Tuesday: "I've been very clear that we do not support reparations...but it's not the case that we don't support countries in the Commonwealth around development helping them with debt issues that they've got."
Britain's central role in the slave trade has long strained relations with its former colonies. Burnham acknowledged the need for "difficult conversations" to safeguard the Commonwealth's future. His approach marks a shift from the previous government under Keir Starmer, which at the 2024 Commonwealth meeting in Samoa tried to avoid the issue, only to see member states back talks on reparatory justice.
The change in tone has drawn criticism at home. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and the right-wing press have attacked Burnham's stance, arguing that it undermines Britain's interests and opens the door to endless compensation claims.
King Charles III, who opened the summit as part of a nine-day Caribbean tour, went further than previous royals by expressing his "horror" at slavery, though he stopped short of apologising. He called the slave trade a "monstrous injustice" that "still casts a shadow over these islands and other members" of the 56-nation grouping, which is largely made up of former British colonies.
The debate over reparations is not confined to Britain. Across Europe, former colonial powers face similar calls. Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have all grappled with their own histories of slavery and colonial exploitation. The European Union has yet to take a unified position, but the issue is gaining traction in diplomatic circles.
Miliband's comments come as the UK seeks to redefine its global role post-Brexit. The lingering scars of Brexit continue to shape Britain's foreign policy, and the Commonwealth remains a key arena for projecting influence. Yet the reparations question threatens to overshadow those efforts.
For many Commonwealth nations, particularly in the Caribbean and Africa, the demand for reparative justice is not just about money. It is about acknowledging the enduring economic and social consequences of slavery. The "debt reset" proposal, while not reparations, could offer a practical way to address some of those inequalities.
As the summit continues, the pressure on Britain to make a formal apology is likely to grow. Whether that apology, if it comes, will satisfy critics remains uncertain. But for now, Miliband's message is clear: financial compensation is off the table, but a symbolic gesture may be on the horizon.
