An Apology Without Reparations, and a Leader Who Rejects Both
The chancellor confirmed this morning that the apology the prime minister is open to would carry no financial liability: considering one “doesn’t mean accepting that British people now should accept the financial liability” for acts “in which they had no role”. The Conservative leader rejects an apology too, calling it a lever to open the door to cash.
Asked in Downing Street why the government would not contemplate reparations, the chancellor drew the line precisely: the prime minister is “open to a discussion about an apology” and thinks that right before the Commonwealth meeting, “but he doesn’t believe that reparations are the right approach”. The Conservative leader’s objection is explicitly instrumental rather than historical: she does not think the prime minister “needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash”, says “we’ve had enough of apologising”, maintains the British Empire was “overall a force for good” while conceding “terrible things” happened in all empires, and questions whether future prime ministers should attend the summit at all. The Liberal Democrat leader wants a discussion but also opposes reparations, so all three Westminster party leaders now rule them out. The King addresses Commonwealth leaders on Tuesday, and the detail that matters is this: the Palace was told of the prime minister’s article in advance and has made no changes to the speech, which it says will show “unflinching honesty, sincere sorrow”.