Bell Ribeiro-Addy says openness to an apology is not commitment
Bell Ribeiro-AddyLabour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, speaking to The Independent
Ribeiro-Addy welcomes Burnham's attention to reparations but says a full and unequivocal apology is still needed and that the British state bears responsibility for slavery.
Responding to
Britain should not pay financial reparations for the transatlantic slave trade because British people today cannot be held liable for historical wrongs in which they played no personal part.
“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.”
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
Independent report of November 2, 2026 with comments from Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Downing Street and Foreign Office statements on reparations and aid.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Ribeiro-Addy told The Independent that the Prime Minister's attention to reparations, and his recognition that Britain must engage with international partners, "is welcome".
After the quotation
She said nobody is asking the average British person to take personal responsibility for enslavement, adding: "This is about the responsibility of the state".
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. Ribeiro-Addy welcomes the openness but says it falls short of a full apology and argues that the state is responsible for slavery, which disputes the reasoning behind ruling out reparations. Her response supports part of the position and challenges the rest.
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- 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
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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- Bell Ribeiro-Addy says openness to an apology is not commitment
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The Dispute Index. "Bell Ribeiro-Addy says openness to an apology is not commitment". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/7827-ribeiro-addy-welcomes-burnham-s-attention-to-reparations