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| Slave trade shameful, Blair says | Slave trade shameful, Blair says |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK's role in the slave trade is a matter of "deep sorrow and regret", Prime Minister Tony Blair is to say. | The UK's role in the slave trade is a matter of "deep sorrow and regret", Prime Minister Tony Blair is to say. |
| In a statement marking the anniversary of the abolition the transatlantic slave trade, the PM says it was among history's most "shameful enterprises". | In a statement marking the anniversary of the abolition the transatlantic slave trade, the PM says it was among history's most "shameful enterprises". |
| He will say the same dedication that led to abolition was needed to tackle the "many forms" of modern day slavery. | He will say the same dedication that led to abolition was needed to tackle the "many forms" of modern day slavery. |
| It comes as the Archbishop of York has called on the UK to formally apologise for its role in the slave trade. | It comes as the Archbishop of York has called on the UK to formally apologise for its role in the slave trade. |
| Mr Blair's comments will be heard in a video message at a commemorative ceremony taking place at Elmina Castle in Ghana, where Portuguese traders built sub-Saharan Africa's first permanent transatlantic slave trading post in 1492. | Mr Blair's comments will be heard in a video message at a commemorative ceremony taking place at Elmina Castle in Ghana, where Portuguese traders built sub-Saharan Africa's first permanent transatlantic slave trading post in 1492. |
| It is an opportunity for the United Kingdom to express our deep sorrow and regret for our nation's role Tony Blair Welsh links to abolition Scotland marks abolition | |
| It will also be relayed to giant screens at events taking place in the UK and around the former British Empire. | It will also be relayed to giant screens at events taking place in the UK and around the former British Empire. |
| But the statement appears to fall short of demands from campaigners who say he has not gone far enough. | But the statement appears to fall short of demands from campaigners who say he has not gone far enough. |
| 'Now forgotten' | 'Now forgotten' |
| "It is right that this anniversary is being marked today here in Ghana's Elmina Castle, the scene of such inhuman abuse, and in cities across the UK - in Liverpool, Hull, Bristol and London which played their part in this deplorable trade," Mr Blair will say. | "It is right that this anniversary is being marked today here in Ghana's Elmina Castle, the scene of such inhuman abuse, and in cities across the UK - in Liverpool, Hull, Bristol and London which played their part in this deplorable trade," Mr Blair will say. |
| Baroness Amos is to address the event at the former slave fort | Baroness Amos is to address the event at the former slave fort |
| "It is an opportunity for the United Kingdom to express our deep sorrow and regret for our nation's role in the slave trade and for the unbearable suffering, individually and collectively, it caused." | "It is an opportunity for the United Kingdom to express our deep sorrow and regret for our nation's role in the slave trade and for the unbearable suffering, individually and collectively, it caused." |
| He also paid tribute to the "courage and conviction" of those who campaigned to end the "vile trade" including former slave Olaudah Equiano, church leader Thomas Clarkson and MP William Wilberforce. | He also paid tribute to the "courage and conviction" of those who campaigned to end the "vile trade" including former slave Olaudah Equiano, church leader Thomas Clarkson and MP William Wilberforce. |
| Mr Blair said there were also countless men and women, "now forgotten by history, black and white, from across Africa, including Ghana, from Britain and many other countries" whose efforts should be recognised. | Mr Blair said there were also countless men and women, "now forgotten by history, black and white, from across Africa, including Ghana, from Britain and many other countries" whose efforts should be recognised. |
| He went on to describe forced recruitment of child solders, human trafficking and bonded labour as modern forms of slavery. | He went on to describe forced recruitment of child solders, human trafficking and bonded labour as modern forms of slavery. |
| "We must remember as well that poverty, social exclusion and conflict is at the root of this cruelty," he added. | "We must remember as well that poverty, social exclusion and conflict is at the root of this cruelty," he added. |
| "There is a great deal more to do. But in recent years, we have also seen great progress." | "There is a great deal more to do. But in recent years, we have also seen great progress." |
| Go further | Go further |
| In January, Mr Blair held a reception at Downing Street to mark the anniversary of the abolition act. | In January, Mr Blair held a reception at Downing Street to mark the anniversary of the abolition act. |
| In November, he expressed "deep sorrow" for the slave trade in an 850 word article in the New Nation newspaper and earlier this month, after a meeting with Ghana's president, he said: "We are sorry". | In November, he expressed "deep sorrow" for the slave trade in an 850 word article in the New Nation newspaper and earlier this month, after a meeting with Ghana's president, he said: "We are sorry". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The west should NOT apologise for something that was perfectly acceptable at the time Martin Brown, UK Send us your comments Read our slavery Q&A | |
| But the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, told the BBC he should go further. | But the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, told the BBC he should go further. |
| "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. |
| House of Lords leader Baroness Amos is also due to address the Elmina Castle event, organised by the British Council and the government of Ghana. | House of Lords leader Baroness Amos is also due to address the Elmina Castle event, organised by the British Council and the government of Ghana. |
| The peer, who is descended from slaves herself, is expected to say the trade was one of the UK's most "shameful and uncomfortable chapters". | The peer, who is descended from slaves herself, is expected to say the trade was one of the UK's most "shameful and uncomfortable chapters". |
| "The human cost of the trade was immense; the regime was brutal and inhumane," she will say. | "The human cost of the trade was immense; the regime was brutal and inhumane," she will say. |
| "Millions died, but they fought enslavement and rebelled at every stage." | "Millions died, but they fought enslavement and rebelled at every stage." |
| Event protest | Event protest |
| In the UK, an exhibition entitled Resistance and Remembrance Day - which includes a recorded video message from Nelson Mandela - is being held at London's British Museum. | In the UK, an exhibition entitled Resistance and Remembrance Day - which includes a recorded video message from Nelson Mandela - is being held at London's British Museum. |
| Campaigners want Mr Blair to make a formal apology | Campaigners want Mr Blair to make a formal apology |
| And on Sunday morning, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, reopened the Wilberforce House museum in Hull. | And on Sunday morning, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, reopened the Wilberforce House museum in Hull. |
| William Wilberforce was the parliamentary spokesman for the abolition movement. | William Wilberforce was the parliamentary spokesman for the abolition movement. |
| In Bristol, which had been one of Britain's busiest slave ports, protesters interrupted a ceremony attended by the Duchess of Gloucester at the city's cathedral. | In Bristol, which had been one of Britain's busiest slave ports, protesters interrupted a ceremony attended by the Duchess of Gloucester at the city's cathedral. |
| Church and community leaders were leading sermons when members of a black African campaign group Operation Truth 2007 gathered outside, carrying placards and chanting "not in our name". | Church and community leaders were leading sermons when members of a black African campaign group Operation Truth 2007 gathered outside, carrying placards and chanting "not in our name". |
| "We feel this ceremony is totally inappropriate - 1807 did not bring anything for enslaved Africans," said Jendayi Serwah, 41, from Bristol. | "We feel this ceremony is totally inappropriate - 1807 did not bring anything for enslaved Africans," said Jendayi Serwah, 41, from Bristol. |
| "We are here to offer a different perspective." | "We are here to offer a different perspective." |