# Burnham pledges £40m in aid for Caribbean amid calls for reparations over UK’s role in the slave trade

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/burnham-pledges-40m-in-aid-for-caribbean-amid-calls-for-reparations-over-uks-role-in-the-slave-trade/
- Published: 2026-11-02T23:04:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T23:20:33+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-caribbean-aid-slavery-apology-reparations-b3077944.html
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- Burnham pledged £40m for Caribbean infrastructure and green energy.
- He is open to an apology but ruled out direct reparations.
- A debt reset and two Commonwealth task forces are also planned.

## Summary

Andy Burnham has pledged £40m in aid for Caribbean countries, amid renewed calls for Britain to apologise and provide reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The funding is intended to support infrastructure, including green energy, while Burnham says he is open to discussing a formal apology but rules out direct financial compensation.

At the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Antigua and Barbuda, Burnham is also expected to propose a “debt reset” to help poorer member states manage repayments and higher interest costs. Britain plans to lead two task forces on critical minerals and supply chains, and on trade and investment, with both due to report at the next summit. Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister, Gaston Browne, has called for an apology, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch opposes one, arguing it could prompt demands for compensation.

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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.