Kemi Badenoch says Britain should not apologise for its role in the slave trade

Summary

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said on Sunday that an apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade would be a 'navel-gazing distraction'. Speaking to broadcasters, she described slavery as an evil 'in which people from every continent and region participated'. She argued that an apology would be used by campaigners as a lever for financial compensation. Badenoch also questioned whether future leaders should attend the Commonwealth summit, which she said is now dominated by calls for reparations.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   1 Nov 2026, 11:26 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said an apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade would be a 'navel-gazing distraction' and would be used by campaigners as a lever for financial compensation, and questioned whether future leaders should attend the Commonwealth summit given its focus on reparations.