UK PM Burnham ready to apologise for slavery but rules out cash reparations; India visit likely

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made a major statement on one of the darkest chapters of the country's colonial history. He has said he is ready to offer a formal apology for Britain's role in the trade in slaves across the Atlantic Ocean and for the atrocities committed against humanity in that period. He set out his view in a special article ahead of the Commonwealth Summit.

Burnham wrote that Britain can understand the pain and suffering of the millions of people who endured the cruelty of slavery. According to him, the trans-Atlantic slave trade was extremely barbaric and human rights were brutally trampled in it. Acknowledging that the wounds of this tragedy have still not fully healed, he expressed deep sorrow and regret. He said that acknowledging this injustice is necessary to lay the foundation of a stronger future. Relations with Commonwealth countries cannot be taken forward by turning a blind eye to past wrongs, he said, and Britain is therefore ready to speak openly on the issue and express regret.

Despite the talk of an apology, Britain has clearly rejected the demand of Caribbean and other Commonwealth countries for financial reparations running into billions of dollars. According to Burnham, it would not be right to place the financial burden of wrongs committed hundreds of years ago on today's British taxpayers. He said bluntly that making up for one injustice by committing another cannot be the right or just solution to the problem.

In place of reparations, he has proposed other routes. Britain will cooperate through direct investment in Commonwealth countries in projects for poverty eradication, help in tackling climate change, education of girls and women, and economic development. But Britain is not willing to provide compensation in the form of direct cash. CARICOM, the organisation of Caribbean countries, has reacted sharply to this stand. The organisation says a verbal apology alone is not enough and that real redress and justice are necessary.

The statement comes at a time when Britain's King Charles is on an official tour of Caribbean countries. Speaking in the Bahamas and on other islands, King Charles referred directly to Britain's history of slavery and paid an emotional tribute to the millions who lived in slavery and lost their lives. Britain has not offered a formal apology on behalf of the royal family, but the British government has had to clarify its position in view of growing international pressure on the issue.

Britain had a very large share in the slave trade that ran across the Atlantic in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain made enormous economic progress from this trade and from industries built on the labour of slaves. Later, in 1833, the British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act, legally banning slavery. But even after this ban, Britain continued its colonial rule over India and many countries of Africa and Asia, and exploited their natural and economic resources on a large scale.

Amid these developments, Britain's new Prime Minister Burnham is very likely to visit India officially soon. Ben Mellor, Britain's acting High Commissioner in India, confirmed this while speaking to the media. After taking office as Prime Minister, Burnham had spoken by phone to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In that first conversation he had expressed a deep wish to visit India and to strengthen relations between the two countries further.

According to High Commissioner Mellor, a positive, official announcement on preparations for Burnham's India visit will be made soon. The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Britain, defence cooperation, and partnership in education and technology will be the main agenda items of the visit. Confidence is being expressed that this new diplomatic initiative by Britain will give a new direction to the strategic partnership between the two countries.