Britain's Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has indicated he is open to a formal government apology for the country's role in the slave trade, according to The New York Times. NBC News reports that Burnham ruled out financial reparations while leaving the door open to an apology.
The signal comes as King Charles visits a site linked to a slave rebellion in Guyana during a Caribbean tour, the BBC reports. The Guardian, in a column on the same subject, argued that British people cannot be made to pay for historical wrongs but that the country must confront its complicated history.
Coverage of Burnham's remarks was carried by several outlets, including Click2Houston, which reported that the government would consider an apology for its role in the slave trade. The reports do not detail what form an apology might take or when a decision could be made.
The distinction Burnham has drawn — openness to an apology but not to payouts — places the question of symbolism versus material redress at the center of the debate. The New York Times reported his openness to a formal apology, while NBC News reported his rejection of financial reparations.
What to watch next: whether the government moves from signaling to a formal statement, and how Caribbean governments and reparations advocates respond to an apology offered without financial commitments.