Britain will not pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has confirmed, even as King Charles III expressed remorse during a Caribbean tour.

Miliband told the BBC on Wednesday that compensation remains off the table despite growing pressure from Commonwealth nations.

“It’s not the right answer. It’s not practical. It’s not feasible for us, but there are things we can work on co-operatively,” he said, adding that London would not “shift our position on reparations”.

The Foreign Secretary suggested Britain could issue a formal apology for slavery when it hosts the G20 leaders’ summit in Manchester next November. Asked whether the UK could reach that point by the meeting, Miliband said: “Broadly speaking, yes”. However, he stressed an apology would not lead to financial compensation.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has proposed an alternative approach. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, he floated a “debt reset” plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries that could change interest rates on repayments.

“I’ve been very clear that we do not support reparations… but it’s not the case that we don’t support countries in the Commonwealth around development helping them with debt issues that they’ve got,” Burnham told reporters on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said he would have “difficult conversations” to protect the Commonwealth’s future. His approach has drawn criticism at home from opposition Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch and right-wing media outlets.

King Charles broke new ground during the Caribbean visit, expressing his “horror” at slavery but stopping short of an apology. The monarch called slavery a “monstrous injustice” that “still casts a shadow over these islands and other members” of the 56-nation group of mostly former British colonies.

Britain’s role in slavery continues to strain relations with former colonies. In 2024, Commonwealth countries backed talks over reparatory justice at a tense meeting in Samoa after Britain, then under Keir Starmer’s leadership, tried to avoid the issue.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their nine-day Caribbean tour on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: King Charles faces reparations pressure during Caribbean tour