The British government is considering a formal apology for its role in trafficking more than three million enslaved people across several centuries. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband criticized past expressions of regret from former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair as inadequate stances that were later walked back. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out paying financial reparations, officials hope this revised approach will finally resolve long-standing debates. The government targets the November 2027 G20 Summit in Manchester as a potential venue for the formal apology.
Key points
The Foreign Secretary confirmed that considering a formal apology for slavery will not im…: The Foreign Secretary confirmed that considering a formal apology for slavery will not impose extra financial costs on taxpayers.
Andy Burnham and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley recently engaged in discussions rega…: Andy Burnham and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley recently engaged in discussions regarding the unresolved historical dispute.
Officials intend for the formal resolution of slavery legacy issues to free up the Common…: Officials intend for the formal resolution of slavery legacy issues to free up the Commonwealth to pursue other diplomatic priorities.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has insisted the government's willingness to consider formally apologising for the the UK's role in the transatlantic slave trade will not lead to higher costs for the British taxpayer.
The prime minister has said the UK will not pay reparations to affected countries, but declined to say whether his new approach could involve additional taxpayer money.
Speaking on the BBC's Newscast podcast, Miliband said previous British governments had a "sweep it under the carpet" attitude to the pain and consequences of slavery, citing what he described as former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair's "sorry not sorry" remarks on the issue nearly two decades ago.
In 2007, Sir Tony said the UK's involvement in the slave trade was a matter of "deep sorrow and regret".
"Tony Blair did sort of do a kind of sorry not sorry situation. He kind of expressed sorrow, and then said sorry, and then it was walked back by number 10," Miliband said.
Miliband said the former prime minister's approach was still referred to and came up in a recent…
State officials have moved forward with expanding internet infrastructure while actively resisting federal interference in local regulatory policies. The conflict sets up a critical confrontation over whether national funding can be conditioned on abandoning local consumer protections. By pushing back against the administration's mandate, the state seeks to safeguard its independent oversight over digital service providers.
Developed with extensive backing from the United Arab Emirates, this powerful faction is deeply rooted in Yemen's southern movement. Currently deployed in a major offensive, the combat force is actively countering Houthi fighters alongside troops aligned with the Saudi-backed government. Their growing operational role highlights shifting battlefield dynamics and crucial collaborative alliances across the broader conflict.
Pyongyang's latest weapons demonstration off its east coast comes as analysts suggest the regime is seeking leverage amid U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in renewed diplomacy. However, Kim Yo Jong recently rebuffed engagement with Washington following FBI allegations that North Korean hackers stole over $6 billion from Binance. Tensions are simultaneously elevated with Seoul following autumn border mine explosions that wounded South Korean personnel.