Miliband rejects Blair’s slavery statement and backs Burnham’s apology plan
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband criticised Tony Blair’s remarks on slavery and defended Andy Burnham’s proposal for a formal apology, insisting it would not cost UK taxpayers a penny more.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has criticised Tony Blair’s statement on slavery and defended Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plan for a proper apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade. Miliband insisted that the apology would not bring any additional cost for UK taxpayers, and he said the government would not shift its position on reparations.
Miliband accused previous governments of having a tendency to “sweep under the carpet” the issue of slavery. His defence of the apology came as the government set out its approach ahead of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, known as Chogm, which is being hosted by Antigua and Barbuda. The timing has placed the question firmly on the agenda of a gathering of leaders from across the Commonwealth.
The row has drawn attention because it touches on a sensitive question in British politics: whether the state should formally acknowledge its historical involvement in the slave trade, and what that acknowledgement means in practical terms. Some commentators have pressed the government to clarify whether an apology could lead to financial claims. Miliband sought to close off that line of argument by stating that no extra payments would follow, and that the government’s stance on reparations was unchanged.
Commentary in the Daily Mail questioned whether the government’s position had been consistent, arguing that Miliband’s guarantee had not been matched by Burnham, who had repeatedly declined to give the same assurance on cost. The Independent reported Miliband’s comments under the headline that a slavery apology would not bring cost for taxpayers, while the Standard quoted him saying taxpayers would not pay a penny more for the new approach to the Commonwealth. Express coverage of Prime Minister’s Questions described Burnham as absent from the chamber after sparking the slavery reparations row, with Louise Haigh among those handling the government’s position.
Burnham himself, speaking in a meeting with his Antigua and Barbuda counterpart Gaston Browne, described the Commonwealth as “more important today than ever before” amid “such volatile times”. He thanked Prime Minister Browne for the warm welcome from Antigua and Barbuda and for hosting Commonwealth leaders at what he called an important moment. In his account, the strength of the Commonwealth in a difficult international period was the central point, and the apology sits within that wider effort to strengthen relations with member states.
The political exchanges also took place against a broader backdrop of debate over the government’s direction. Tony Blair’s earlier remarks on slavery were the trigger for Miliband’s response, and his criticism signals a clear divergence in tone between figures on the Labour side over how the state should address its past. Opposition voices have seized on the row, and reports from Westminster framed the episode as one that could continue to dominate debate as Commonwealth leaders gather.
Separately, the government has moved on regulation of the energy sector. Energy bosses in the UK will have their bonuses curtailed when suppliers and brokers break the rules under a crackdown on mis-selling, according to reporting by Pippa Neill. The measure is a distinct policy announcement, but it arrived on the same day as the slavery debate and reflects the government’s wider agenda on accountability.
The row over slavery and reparations is likely to continue as Commonwealth leaders meet in Antigua and Barbuda. The government has signalled that a formal apology is under consideration while holding that its position on reparations remains unchanged, and Miliband’s comments have set the terms of that argument for the days ahead.
Source: theguardian.com
8
