The Guardian view on apologising for slavery: a necessary process has at last begun | Editorial

Andy Burnham’s commitment to a structured dialogue with Caribbean governments is a step forward, but they need more than words

There was a risk, in the run-up to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) this week, that important discussions could be derailed by the UK government’s refusal to apologise for slavery and the slave trade, combined with its continuing rejection of calls for financial reparations. For the Caribbean governments and campaigners pushing for these steps, the siting of the biennial gathering in Antigua and Barbuda offered a vital opportunity to press their case and raise awareness of the challenges that they face.