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UK slave trade apology 'needed' UK slave trade apology 'needed'
(about 2 hours later)
The Archbishop of York has called on Britain to make a formal apology for the slave trade.The Archbishop of York has called on Britain to make a formal apology for the slave trade.
It comes as events round the world mark the 200th anniversary of legislation to abolish the British slave trade. It comes as events round the world mark Sunday's 200th anniversary of laws abolishing the British slave trade.
Earlier this month, Tony Blair, who had previously expressed "deep sorrow" for the slave trade, said: "We are sorry."Earlier this month, Tony Blair, who had previously expressed "deep sorrow" for the slave trade, said: "We are sorry."
But Dr John Sentamu has told the BBC he should go further in expressing regret for the slave trade, and to apologise fully for Britain's role in it. But Dr John Sentamu has told the BBC he should go further in expressing regret for the slave trade. Mr Blair is to address a ceremony in Ghana on Sunday.
Mr Blair is to address a ceremony in Ghana to mark the bicentenary. A video message from the prime minister will be played at the event at Elmina Castle, where slaves were held before being shipped to the Americas.
A video message from the prime minister will be played at the event at Elmina Castle where slaves were held before being shipped to the Americas. Baroness Amos is to address the event at the former slave fort
House of Lords leader Baroness Amos is to tell the commemorative event in Ghana that the slave trade was one of the UK's most "shameful and uncomfortable chapters".
Britain's first black cabinet minister will also pay tribute to those who worked for the 1807 abolition laws.
Baroness Amos, who is descended from slaves herself, is expected to tell the event: "Millions died, but they fought enslavement and rebelled at every stage."
She will say the "campaigning tradition" that led to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act lives on in the likes of Live Aid, Live 8 and Make Poverty History.
'Put record straight'
Dr Sentamu, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, told BBC One's Sunday AM programme that Britain was a country which had once bought and sold slaves "as it did crops like onions or maize", and now had to make a formal apology.Dr Sentamu, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, told BBC One's Sunday AM programme that Britain was a country which had once bought and sold slaves "as it did crops like onions or maize", and now had to make a formal apology.
"A nation of this quality should have the sense of saying we are very sorry and we have to put the record straight," he said."A nation of this quality should have the sense of saying we are very sorry and we have to put the record straight," he said.
Baroness Amos is to address the event at the former slave fort He urged the prime minister to go further than he did a year ago, when Mr Blair spoke simply of Britain's deep sorrow about slavery.
He urged the prime minister to go further than he did a year ago when Mr Blair spoke simply of Britain's deep sorrow about slavery.
However, speaking in London earlier this month after a meeting with Ghana's president, Mr Blair said Britain was "sorry" for its role in the slave trade.However, speaking in London earlier this month after a meeting with Ghana's president, Mr Blair said Britain was "sorry" for its role in the slave trade.
Dr Sentamu, who helped lead the Church's own mark of repentance on a walk through London on Saturday, rejected the idea of paying reparations, but said a full apology would be an act of strength.Dr Sentamu, who helped lead the Church's own mark of repentance on a walk through London on Saturday, rejected the idea of paying reparations, but said a full apology would be an act of strength.
He added: "This community was involved in a very terrible trade, Africans were involved in a very terrible trade, the Church was involved in a very terrible trade... it's important that we all own up to what was collectively done."He added: "This community was involved in a very terrible trade, Africans were involved in a very terrible trade, the Church was involved in a very terrible trade... it's important that we all own up to what was collectively done."
On the anniversary of the passing of the act, events are taking place around the former British Empire - which was the world leader in transporting Africans across the Atlantic to the New World. Mandela message
'Shameful chapter' Events are taking place around the former British Empire - which was the world leader in transporting Africans across the Atlantic to the New World.
House of Lords leader Baroness Amos is to tell the commemorative event in Ghana that the slave trade was one of the UK's most "shameful and uncomfortable chapters". In the UK, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will join the prime minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, to reopen the Wilberforce House museum in Hull.
Britain's first black cabinet minister will also pay tribute to those who worked for the 1807 abolition laws. Millions died, but they fought enslavement and rebelled at every stage Baroness Amos
Baroness Amos, who is descended from slaves herself, is expected to tell the event: "The human cost of the trade was immense; the regime was brutal and inhumane... William Wilberforce was the parliamentary spokesman for the abolition movement.
"Millions died, but they fought enslavement and rebelled at every stage." She will say the "campaigning tradition" that led to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act lives on in the likes of Live Aid, Live 8 and Make Poverty History. And, at London's British Museum, an exhibition entitled Resistance and Remembrance Day - which includes a recorded video message from Nelson Mandela - is being held.
But Baroness Amos will add that action is still needed to tackle people trafficking, racism and the under-development of Africa. Child prostitution
"This bicentenary should mark our renewed collective commitment to tackle these issues, so that in another 200 years future generations should not have to express regrets on our behalf, for our actions today." Meanwhile, Save the Children UK has published a major report about modern day child slavery.
It says that more than 218 million children aged between five and 17 are working as child labourers across the world.
Spokeswoman Corinna Csaky told the BBC: "We've got children as young as five involved in child soldiering in different countries.
"We've got children involved in prostitution and a range of different work that is harming them and in some cases killing them."