Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Role at the time: Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, speaking to The Independent
Response to this claim
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.”
Why we used 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.