Kemi Badenoch
Role at the time: Leader of the Conservative Party
Condemned
Statement summary
Badenoch says Burnham should be Britain's greatest defender instead of considering another formal apology, and cites Tony Blair's expression of sorrow and regret nearly twenty years ago.
“As Prime Minister, Andy Burnham should be Britain’s greatest defender. Instead, he is writing articles saying we need to confront our history (as if we haven't done enough of that) and considering another formal historical apology. Tony Blair already expressed Britain’s deep sorrow and regret for our role in the slave trade nearly twenty years ago. There is no need to do so again.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Kemi Badenoch on a formal apology and reparationsPost 2116517088869192115
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. Badenoch says there is no need to apologise again and criticises Burnham for considering it, so she rejects the apology he is open to.