King Charles acknowledges slavery's 'horrors' at Commonwealth meeting but stops short of apology

■ Steady

King Charles calls slavery a 'shameful chapter' but stops short of apology

Speaking to leaders of 56 Commonwealth countries in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday, King Charles III said he has a greater understanding of the horrors of slavery and called it a "shameful chapter of history", without offering an apology. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is open to the UK apologising for the transatlantic slave trade. On Monday Downing Street said Burnham would launch a 'structured dialogue' on the form of a formal apology.

• Ralph Gonsalves says British officials initially insisted reparations stay off the summit agenda and warned Burnham might skip it.
• Reparatory justice remains off the formal agenda, though Burnham has agreed to structured dialogue.
• Former chancellor Rachel Reeves wrote in the Sunday Times that Brexit has made the UK poorer, weaker and less secure, and backed Burnham.
• London police arrested 48 people on Saturday at a protest against the Palestine Action ban, days before a UK Supreme Court appeal.