A petition calling for a formal apology from the British state for its role in African chattel slavery and colonialism has been presented in Parliament today by Bell Ribeiro-Addy.
Submitted on the United Nations International Day for the Remembrance of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the petition marks a significant moment of reflection — and a renewed demand for accountability.
It calls on the House of Commons to recognise the profound and lasting harm caused by Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and empire, and to issue a formal apology on behalf of both the Government and the monarchy.
The petition also urges Parliament to establish an All-Party Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for Truth and Reparatory Justice — a step that would begin the process of fully examining the legacy of enslavement and colonialism, and identifying meaningful paths towards repair.
At its core is a simple but powerful truth: that there has never been a genuine, formal apology for the enslavement, trafficking, exploitation and violence carried out under British authority.
The timing is significant. At the United Nations, delegates are considering a historic motion, tabled by Ghana, to recognise the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity. The UK Government has yet to confirm its position.
Speaking ahead of the petition hand-in, Bell Ribeiro-Addy said:
“To this day, our country has never provided a genuine apology for the crimes of the British Empire or the transatlantic slave trade.
These are not distant histories — their impact is still felt in the inequalities and injustices we see today.
Acknowledgement is not about the past alone; it is about building a fairer and more honest future.”
Across the UK and beyond, calls for truth and reparatory justice have continued to grow. For many, an apology is not symbolic — it is foundational. It represents recognition, dignity, and a willingness to confront history with honesty rather than silence.
The legacies of slavery and colonialism are not abstract. They are visible in systems of inequality, in global imbalances of wealth and power, and in the lived experiences of communities today. Addressing them requires more than reflection — it requires action.
This petition places that responsibility squarely before Parliament.
It asks a fundamental question: what does it mean for a nation to truly reckon with its past?
For those who have long called for recognition and justice, the answer begins here — with truth, accountability, and the courage to say, unequivocally, that what happened was wrong.
Full text of petition here: https://www.change.org/p/apology-for-britain-s-role-in-african-chattel-enslavement-and-colonialism