"Slavery bad" - but not so bad that one would have to apologise for it!

Peter Hain, the cabinet secretary for Wales, Northern Ireland and perhaps the Isles of Scilly, seems to have overstepped the mark with what would appear to be an actual apology for the British slave trade. Speaking in New York Mr. Hain said:

"Slavery was the most inhuman and barbaric trade in the history of the world. Wales played a part in the slave trade and it is important that we face up to that role.

"A great many Welshmen prospered from slavery and much of the wealth of Wales at that time was based on the trade.

"We can never undo what was done, but this historic legacy must be recognised. We must also recognise our responsibility to support modern day Africa to tackle its problems."

The official New Labour stance on slavery is to be "sorrowful".

Tony is not going to be well pleased.