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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| London mayor 'sorry' for slavery | London mayor 'sorry' for slavery |
| (5 days later) | |
| Mayor Ken Livingstone has formally apologised for London's role in the slave trade. | Mayor Ken Livingstone has formally apologised for London's role in the slave trade. |
| He called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to follow suit by issuing an official apology on behalf of the UK. | He called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to follow suit by issuing an official apology on behalf of the UK. |
| "The government's refusal of such an apology is squalid," he said, on the eve of the bicentenary of legislation to abolish the slave trade. | "The government's refusal of such an apology is squalid," he said, on the eve of the bicentenary of legislation to abolish the slave trade. |
| Mr Livingstone urged fellow Londoners to join him in apologising for this "monstrous crime". | Mr Livingstone urged fellow Londoners to join him in apologising for this "monstrous crime". |
| 'Deep sorrow' | 'Deep sorrow' |
| He said France, the US state of Virginia, the city of Liverpool, and the Church of England had formally apologised over slavery. | He said France, the US state of Virginia, the city of Liverpool, and the Church of England had formally apologised over slavery. |
| By apologising, we begin the process of reconciliation and addressing the legacy of this gross act of inhumanity Simon WoolleyOperation Black Vote | By apologising, we begin the process of reconciliation and addressing the legacy of this gross act of inhumanity Simon WoolleyOperation Black Vote |
| "It will be infinitely better for our country's reputation if that apology is made now justly, frankly and openly," he said, and added: "Delay demeans our country." | "It will be infinitely better for our country's reputation if that apology is made now justly, frankly and openly," he said, and added: "Delay demeans our country." |
| Mr Blair has previously expressed "deep sorrow" for Britain's role in the slave trade, a Downing Street spokesman said. | Mr Blair has previously expressed "deep sorrow" for Britain's role in the slave trade, a Downing Street spokesman said. |
| In an article for the New Nation newspaper in November 2006, he said it had been "profoundly shameful". | In an article for the New Nation newspaper in November 2006, he said it had been "profoundly shameful". |
| But Mr Blair stopped short of issuing a full apology, which some commentators have demanded. | But Mr Blair stopped short of issuing a full apology, which some commentators have demanded. |
| Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said the mayor had made a "bold but undeniable statement". | Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said the mayor had made a "bold but undeniable statement". |
| "By apologising, we begin the process of reconciliation and addressing the legacy of this gross act of inhumanity," he said. | "By apologising, we begin the process of reconciliation and addressing the legacy of this gross act of inhumanity," he said. |
| "It is important because the legacy of slavery remains with many black people on a daily basis." | "It is important because the legacy of slavery remains with many black people on a daily basis." |
| The Bicentenary of the Abolition of Slavery Act, which bannedthe British trans-Atlantic slave trade, is on 25 March. |