An apology for the slave trade is not enough

In the light of the current debate, PAUL DONOVAN recommends historian David Olusuga’s new documentary that draws on Lancaster University’s Register of British Slave Traders

Books / 10 November 2026 Literary criticism or brusque stridency? 10 November 2026 CHRIS MOSS wrestles with an ambitious, occasionally entertaining and highly subjective survey of the British novel

SANTIAGO FOUZ HERNANDEZ explores La Bola Negra, a thrilling historical survey of changing Spanish attitudes to homosexuality

RITA DI SANTO speaks to RASHID MASHARAWI, the producer of over 30 films from Gaza including this year's candidate for the Oscars, Citizen Osama

TONY BURKE recommends a history of US ‘struggle music’ that is detailed, breathtaking and worth checking out

BRENT CUTLER relishes a life that arose from Manchester’s underground scene to the highest peaks of TV fame

THERE has been much talk recently over whether Britain should apologise for its role in the slave trade and pay reparations. The present mood music seems to be that it may do the former but not the latter. If so, the question would be what the value of an apology is without something substantive to back it up? It seems hollow and meaningless.

So, what the case for apology and acknowledgement of what has occurred?

Historian Professor David Olusoga’s recent two part documentary, Finding Britain’s Slave Traders, laid out how the trade developed. The early British involvement came in Elizabeth I’s reign — indeed she underwrote some of the largest ventures. This foray, though, ended, following an altercation with the Spanish.

The trade, then, really picked up under the Stuarts. James, Duke of York (later James II) headed the Royal Africa Company (RAC). This brutal body, in some ways equivalent to the East India Company, dominated the trade. Indeed, there was a period when the private companies trying to break into the trade, were being attacked, imprisoned and tortured by the RAC. The RAC, however, faded with the demise of James and accession of William and Mary.

The private sector then came into its own, increasingly dominating the trade. The huge wealth built on the back of the slave trade created some incredibly rich people. Initially, the trade centred on London but later extended to Bristol and Liverpool. In many ways, the proceeds from the trade built these places into the major cities they are today.

Those who made such wealth from the trade needed somewhere to put their money. This turned out to be the embryonic industries of the industrial revolution. So, effectively, slave money helped fund the growth of Britain as a major capitalist power.

On a more positive note, Olusoga highlights how Britain was one of the first countries to turn abolitionist in 1807. After that date the Royal Navy was tasked with fighting the trade — a real case of poacher turned gamekeeper. Individual traders, of course, turned to other means, such as indentured labour, but slavery was, on the face of it, outlawed.

It is these individuals that Olusoga highlights, when he picks up on the five year study by the research team at Lancaster University that has created the Register of British Slave Traders. The register comprises details of 13,000 slave owners. Back in the 19th century these were the people that the British government decided should be compensated, not the slaves. These payments were only completed in 2015.

So, over the centuries there has never been a problem with compensating the perpetrators, only the victims.

As more evidence has come to light of the slave trade, so the call for action has grown ever louder. There was the pulling down of the statues of trader Edward Colson and others a few years ago. Olusoga points out that Colson was actually a London-based trader — not from Bristol, where the statue was hauled down.

The two-part Olusoga documentary, grounded on the Lancaster University research, provides a powerful critique of the slave trade. It is unique in tracing the history, from the involvement of the Crown and commerce, through abolition to effectively funding the industrial revolution and life today.

The register of owners traces the whole thing up to the present day, helping puncture the argument of those who claim it is all in the past, so not the responsibility of the present generation; often, a convenient get-out for many in the mainstream political class today.

The government seems to be moving towards an apology without reparations, whilst the Tories refuse to even engage with the issue.

The Olusoga programmes help in bringing things together in the the round, suggesting there is a great wrong that needs to be righted but leaving the door open. The great strength is in making that historic connection between what happened centuries ago and life today — and ultimately the profiteering elites, who remain in charge.

Olusuoa also highlights how a number of public institutions, such as the Church of England and some arts and educational bodies, are looking to reconcile and compensate in some way for their past actions.

To move forward, there needs to be a proper reconciliation process relating to the past crimes of the slave trade. This does not mean assigning what happened to the dustbin of history. The Olusoga documentaries provide much evidence and point the way to how the abomination of slavery can properly be addressed.

They are an excellent contribution to the important ongoing debate.

Finding Britain’s Slave Traders is available on BBC iplayer 

Britain / 3 November 2026 ‘Sorry, not sorry,’ Britain tells Commonwealth on slavery 3 November 2026 Politics / 1 November 2026 Britain at ‘tipping point’ over slavery apology after Burnham said he is open to discussion 1 November 2026 Racism / 4 September 2026 Time to repay a debt that’s long overdue 4 September 2026 Trade unions should be at the heart of the anti-racist push for reparations for the historic legacy and continuing impact of slavery, writes ROGER McKENZIE

Books / 5 June 2026 An exceptional account of British historical crimes, and the struggle against them 5 June 2026 BOB NEWLAND appreciates an important contribution to the debate about how slavery helped to build the wealth of Western companies and states