John Healey says Andy Burnham is open to a discussion about an apology but not reparations
John HealeyChancellor of the Exchequer, speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Healey says Burnham is open to a discussion about an apology ahead of the Commonwealth summit, and that considering one does not mean accepting financial liability.
Responding to
A formal British apology for the slave trade would be used as a lever to seek financial compensation from Britain.
“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”
Reporting
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
Guardian report of November 1, 2026 on Badenoch's comments to broadcasters and on X, and on Chancellor John Healey's remarks on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
Reporting
About this source
Independent report of November 1, 2026 on Badenoch's Sky News interview, including her description of the British Empire as "overall a force for good", and on Healey's BBC remarks.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The Guardian reports that Healey said it would be unfair for British people to be hit financially for reparations when they had "no role" in the slave trade.
After the quotation
He added that Burnham does not believe "reparations are the right approach" and that considering a formal apology does not mean accepting financial liability for things that happened hundreds of years ago.
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. Healey, a member of Burnham's government, says the openness to discussing an apology is the right thing and repeats the rejection of reparations, so he defends the position under review.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Andy Burnham
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
Richard Tice calls the debate over slavery reparations and apologies "absurd"
“Yet news dominated by absurd debate over slavery reparations & apologies Idiotic”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- John Healey says Andy Burnham is open to a discussion about an apology but not reparations
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/7825-healey-says-burnham-is-open-to-a-discussion
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "John Healey says Andy Burnham is open to a discussion about an apology but not reparations". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7825-healey-says-burnham-is-open-to-a-discussion