Question
Does the Minister think that an apology for the slave trade issued by a Government who have absolutely no responsibility for it having happened, on behalf of a country in which there is no one alive who has any responsibility for what happened 300 and more years ago, will make the people who are seeking reparations more likely or less likely to intensify their demands?
Answer
I can say to the right hon. Gentleman that the response of international partners has been nothing but positive, and progress has been made on the constructive dialogue. We will not agree on this, I am sure, but the adult approach—the UK approach—is to respect and understand our past and move forward.25% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (8/100)
The reply does not answer the question asked, which was whether an apology would make reparations campaigners more or less likely to escalate their demands. Instead, it says international partners have responded positively, notes a disagreement, and offers general remarks about respecting the past and moving forward. Someone who asked this question would still have no answer on the likely effect on campaigners and would probably need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Minister's view on whether an apology for the slave trade would make those seeking reparations more or less likely to intensify their demands? | Not Addressed | Generic | The question asks whether an apology would make reparations campaigners more or less likely to escalate their demands, but the reply never addresses that effect. It offers only a claim that international partners have responded positively, a note of disagreement, and a general platitude about respecting the past and moving forward. |