A councillor in Hull has urged the UK to move past debates surrounding formal slavery apologies and financial reparations, arguing that public funds should instead be concentrated on local issues.

The Reform UK councillor wants to remind policymakers that Hull has already played a pivotal role in the abolitionist movement through its famed Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce.

The debate around a formal apology for slavery and the possibility of modern taxpayers paying reparations has dominated much of the international news agenda this week with King Charles discussing the matter during a high profile visit to the Caribbean.

While stopping short of an outright apology, the monarch directly addressed the enduring pain caused by the transatlantic slave trade, and said: “The shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow.”

Coun Salman Anwar wades into slavery apology debate: "Taxpayers’ money should be going to fixing roads in Kingston upon Hull, not Kingston, Jamaica."

placeholder image — Coun Salman Anwar wades into slavery apology debate: "Taxpayers’ money should be going to fixing roads in Kingston upon Hull, not Kingston, Jamaica."

“For, as any sailor navigating the seas knows, we cannot command the winds, least of all where the winds of yesterday have delivered us – but we can choose how we set our sail,” King Charles added.

The words from the King have led to Prime Minister Andy Burnham stating he is open to exploring a formal British apology while rejecting direct financial payouts.

“Having these difficult conversations to safeguard the Commonwealth for the future is the right thing to do,” he said.

“It is also the patriotic thing to do. I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous… but because the Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We led the world in abolishing slavery – and we can show leadership again today.”

Government leaders have since confirmed a new £40million investment to speed up critical infrastructure investment in the Caribbean as part of the slavery conversations.

But the government’s financial intervention is the wrong message, according to Hull City Councillor Salman Anwar. He is urging political leaders on a local and national level to focus on pressing regional priorities rather than historical gestures.

Coun Anwar is reminding policymakers that East Yorkshire and the UK should be more proud and vocal about Hull’s historic link to abolitionist William Wilberforce. He states modern Brits should celebrate the nation’s efforts to end the slave trade rather than bear guilt for its origins.

“Slavery was obviously a horrific crime, nobody disputes that, which is why William Wilberforce holds such a special place in Hull’s history,” Coun Anwar said.

“He fought to end the slave trade, and after it was abolished Britain used the Royal Navy to enforce the ban, at the cost of British lives. It’s that legacy that Hull, and the whole country, should be proud of.”

The councillor further argued that current generations must not be held financially or morally liable for historic atrocities they had no hand in committing.

“People today shouldn’t be apologising or paying for something they had no part in,” he added. “Taxpayers’ money should be going to fixing roads in Kingston upon Hull, not Kingston, Jamaica.”

Coun Anwar was elected to Hull City Council in May 2026, winning 836 votes in his ward. He is keen the Prime Minister visits Hull to learn more about what the city’s most famous son delivered as part of the abolitionist movement before spending any more taxpayer’s money on slavery apologies.

Coun Anwar added: “Before Andy Burnham commits a penny of taxpayers’ money to reparations, I’d invite him to Hull to learn about the part Britain played in ending the slave trade, which is something to be proud of.”

William Wilberforce is perhaps the most significant figure in Hull’s storied history. He was born in the city in 1759 to a wealthy family that had made its fortune in the maritime trade with Baltic countries.

The legendary politician was educated at Hull Grammar School before continuing his studies in London and later attending Cambridge University. He was elected to Parliament to represent Hull in September 1780, at the age of just 21 years old.

The story of his campaigning abolitionist movement is brought to life at Wilberforce House in Hull, which reopened after a significant refurbishment in 2023.

The museum’s website explains: “Our galleries expose the realities of the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies. Discover journals and artefacts that once belonged to William Wilberforce. Explore important items linked to slavery and abolition. And get a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of West African culture.”