Kemi Badenoch has been torched by the prime minister of Antigua over her opposition to paying reparations for the slave trade.
Gaston Browne said it was “no wonder she is leader of the opposition”.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has said he is “open” to making an official apology for Britain’s role in the slave trade, but is also opposed to paying reparations.
The issue is set to dominate the Conservative Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) taking place in Antigua this week.
Speaking on Sunday, Badenoch said an apology by Burnham would simply intensify the calls for multi-billion pound reparations from African and Caribbean nations.
She said: “I don’t think we should be giving any money to compensate people for the slave trade, and I don’t think that Andy Burnham needs to be apologising because it is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash.”
Asked about Badenoch’s comments by ITV, Browne said: “Well, I think she’s misguided. And no wonder she is the leader of the opposition and not the prime minister. Right?”
On whether Badenoch should reassess her position, he said: “Well, that’s up to her. But we do not share her sentiments.”
Writing in The Guardian, Burnham expressed his “sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions”, but, in keeping with previous governments, rejected calls for financial compensation.
“We are offering a structured dialogue with those affected by the transatlantic slave trade,” he said.
“Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process and I am open to them.”
But he added: “I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part.”
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