# Badenoch claims British empire was force for good overall: ‘We have had enough of apologies’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/badenoch-claims-british-empire-was-force-for-good-overall-we-have-had-enough-of-apologies/
- Published: 2026-11-01T11:06:12+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/kemi-badenoch-british-empire-slavery-apology-b3077038.html
- Topics: Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Badenoch calls the British Empire “overall a force for good”.
- She opposes an apology, warning it could lead to compensation demands.
- Burnham is open to discussing an apology but rules out reparations.

## Summary

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the British Empire was “overall a force for good”, while opposing a formal British apology for the transatlantic slave trade. She argued that an apology could prompt Commonwealth countries to seek compensation and put pressure on the King ahead of next week’s leaders’ summit in Antigua.

Badenoch acknowledged that terrible things happened under empires but said Britain should look to the future and had “had enough of apologising”. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has offered Commonwealth nations the chance to discuss an apology, while ruling out financial reparations. Chancellor John Healey said considering an apology would not make people in Britain financially liable for events centuries ago.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.