𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham is reportedly considering forking out more taxpayers’ cash to other countries to atone for Britain’s role in the slave trade. The Prime Minister is said to be open to boosting financial assistance to Commonwealth nations, despite ruling out paying reparations.

In a bombshell break with established government policy, The Daily Telegraph reports that Mr Burnham will consider demands for investment in everything from healthcare to education from African and Caribbean countries. He opened the door to action by the British state on Friday when he said he was open to making a formal apology for slavery. He ruled out writing a cheque in a piece for The Guardian, saying his Government should not be held responsible for actions taken centuries ago.

But it is reported that he will instead offer a “structured dialogue” with countries affected by the slave trade and listen to demands for more development funding.

That is despite the British taxpayer already picking up the tab for massive aid packages to countries including Nigeria, which is set to snap up £75million this year alone.

Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley welcomed the decision to open talks as she called for “investment in health and education” and a “development partnership” with the UK. Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, also said he hoped for “meaningful” discussions on “reparatory justice”.

No extra cash will make its way into the pockets of foreign governments this financial year, but it has been reported that future funding could be considered as soon as next year.

Mr Burnham is due to address a crunch summit of Commonwealth leaders in Antigua and Barbuda this week amid mounting demands for reparations. It comes as Britain faces its highest tax burden since the end of World War 2.

The Prime Minister said in an article for The Guardian on Friday that “listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process and I am open to them”.

His Tory rivals hit out, with Kemi Badenoch saying she was “worried” that the summit would be “yet another opportunity for people to start asking Britain for money because of the slave trade”.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are committed to working with Commonwealth partners on issues facing the world, including the role of private finance in tackling global debt issues, addressing the climate crisis and supporting economic development.”