Kay Burley says Europeans should keep asking forgiveness for the slave trade
Kay BurleyBroadcaster and former Sky News presenter
Replying to Braverman after visiting Elmina Castle in Ghana, Burley says Europeans should never tire of acknowledging the horrors of the slave trade and asking forgiveness, and that Britain played its own shameful part.
“Having just left Elmina Castle in Ghana, where enslaved Africans were imprisoned before being shipped across the Atlantic, I think Europeans should never tire of acknowledging the horrors of our shared history and asking forgiveness from our African friends. Britain played its own shameful part in that history.”
Original post
Original post
Original post
Where this statement fits
Andy Burnham says he is open to a formal UK apology for slavery and rules out reparations; Conservative and Reform UK leaders object, and CARICOM calls for repair
In a Guardian article published on October 30, 2026, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his "sorrow and regret" for the suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade, offered a "structured dialogue" with those affected and said he was open to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state. He wrote that he did not believe financial reparations were the right answer and proposed a drive to ease debt costs for the poorest countries. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman said Britain should not apologise, and Badenoch argued that an apology would be used to seek money. The chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, welcomed the offer of dialogue but rejected Burnham's position on reparations. On November 2, Burnham's spokesperson said his expression of sorrow and regret was "distinct from a formal apology".
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Burley quote-posts Braverman's post about a formal apology, with a photo she took after visiting Elmina Castle in Ghana.
Original post
About this source
Braverman quote-posts a Reuters post reporting that Burnham is open to a formal apology for slavery but rules out reparations.
Original post
About this source
Braverman quote-posts Burley's post about Elmina Castle.
Before the quotation
Burley quote-posts Braverman's post of the same day, which calls a formal apology "dangerous virtue-signalling" that could expose Britain to reparations.
After the quotation
Braverman replied the same afternoon by quote-posting Burley and saying that Africans took part in the slave trade at Elmina.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Andy Burnham's position, set out on October 30, 2026, that he is open to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state for the transatlantic slave trade while ruling out financial reparations. Burley answers Braverman's objection to a formal apology by saying Europeans should keep asking forgiveness and that Britain played its own shameful part. That supports the acknowledgment and apology Burnham is open to, so the label marks support for his position; it does not describe a view of the slave trade itself, which she calls a horror. She does not address reparations.
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More from this case
Read the full caseEd Miliband says the dialogue will consider whether and how a formal apology could help
“The dialogue we're setting up will consider whether and how a formal apology could help acknowledge the history, help heal the division and support stronger relationships for the future”Read statement
Bell Ribeiro-Addy says openness to an apology is not commitment
“He has said he is open to a formal state apology. But openness is not commitment. Until the government makes a full and unequivocal apology, that remains the obstacle to progress.”Read statement
John Healey says Andy Burnham is open to a discussion about an apology but not reparations
“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”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Kay Burley says Europeans should keep asking forgiveness for the slave trade". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7823-replying-to-braverman-after-visiting-elmina-castle-in