Rishi Sunak refuses to apologise for UK slave trade or to pledge reparations

PM says ‘trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward’ in response to Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise for the UK’s role in the slave trade or to commit to paying reparations.

The prime minister was challenged in the Commons by the Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who said former prime ministers and heads of state had “only ever expressed sorrow or deep regret”, since the late MP Bernie Grant first asked the government for an apology 23 years ago.