Ed Miliband says the dialogue will consider whether and how a formal apology could help
Ed MilibandForeign Secretary
Miliband says the UK is self-confident enough to have the conversation and that the planned dialogue will consider whether and how a formal apology could help acknowledge the history.
“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”
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
BBC report of November 2, 2026 on Buckingham Palace's statement about the King's role, the Prime Minister's spokesperson distinguishing Burnham's sorrow and regret from a formal apology, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's remarks.
Before the quotation
Miliband said on November 2 that the UK was "self-confident enough to have this conversation".
After the quotation
The same day, Burnham's spokesperson said his expression of sorrow and regret was "distinct from a formal apology" and that an apology "of this significance should be informed by the people and countries most affected".
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. Miliband, Burnham's Foreign Secretary, says the UK is "self-confident enough to have this conversation" and that the dialogue will consider whether and how a formal apology could help. He supports holding the dialogue but leaves open whether an apology will follow, so his support is conditional.
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- Andy Burnham
More from this case
Read the full caseBell 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
Richard Tice calls the debate over slavery reparations and apologies "absurd"
“Yet news dominated by absurd debate over slavery reparations & apologies Idiotic”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Ed Miliband says the dialogue will consider whether and how a formal apology could help". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7826-miliband-says-the-uk-is-self-confident-enough