Badenoch's slavery comments spark 'profound anger,' black voters' group says

The chair of Operation Black Vote says Kemi Badenoch's latest comments on transatlantic slavery have landed badly. David Weaver, a former government adviser, told The Guardian the Conservative leader's remarks sparked 'profound anger, hurt and disbelief' among black voters. He's now urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to apologize for Britain's historical role without delay.

Badenoch argued Burnham should not issue a state apology, claiming it would be 'a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash.' She also went after Commonwealth leaders in a post on X, per The Guardian. According to Weaver, that framing amounts to a 'troubling absence of moral leadership' from the woman who became the first black woman to lead a major British party two years ago this week.

Burnham has said he's open to a formal apology on behalf of the British state, but he's ruled out reparations. Weaver welcomed the PM's apparent willingness to say sorry, yet flagged the government's 'almost reflexive insistence' that any apology come bundled with assurances that reparations are off the table. Only the prime minister, he argued, can address the hurt felt by descendant communities and show Britain has the 'moral courage to apologise without qualification.'

Weaver said Commonwealth nations pushing for an apology want recognition of continuing colonial legacies that hold back development, calling Badenoch's comments 'profoundly insulting.' He also said OBV has found black voters feel 'despondent' with Labour and 'taken for granted,' particularly over the party's handling of the Windrush scandal fallout — even though black voters were more likely than any other group to back Labour in 2024.

The criticism isn't reserved for Badenoch alone. Weaver said her remarks sit inside a wider political climate, pointing to her past advocacy of a 'colour-blind' approach to race and roles handed to hard-right figures including Rupert Lowe, Katie Lam and former neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine, along with plans to scrap the public sector equality duty and exit the European court of human rights. 'Just because you're black doesn't mean you have to hold a particular point of view,' he said. 'But your heritage, whether you are white or black, does not place your views beyond challenge.'

Downing Street and the Conservative party were approached for comment, The Guardian reported. Commonwealth leaders say the UK has agreed to 'structured dialogue' within the next year.