UK to consult slavery-affected countries on possible apology

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government would begin structured discussions with countries and communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade to help shape a possible formal apology, while ruling out reparations payments. The talks were expected to take place around the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, with the Foreign Office leading discussions on the apology’s form, Downing Street said. The government said it was right for those most affected to be involved rather than for Britain to decide unilaterally what an apology should say. Burnham has expressed sorrow and regret for the suffering caused by slavery, but his spokesperson distinguished those statements from a formal apology on behalf of the British state. Downing Street said a formal apology should be discussed properly with affected countries and communities. Officials said there was no single summit event dedicated to slavery or an apology; discussions were expected to take place over the following days. UK officials at the meeting said Commonwealth countries had responded positively to the offer of structured dialogue. Those comments were attributed to British...