Edinburgh has formally apologised for its history of the slave trade. Lord Provost Robert Aldridge opened a meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council today (Thursday, October 27) by apologising on behalf of the city for its past role in sustaining slavery and colonialism.
The ancient Provost office dates back to the 13th century. Cllr Aldridge who became the city’s 258th Lord Provost in May 2022 issued a civic apology.
This follows ten recommendations and an action plan made by the independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Group which were accepted by the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August. It is the result of a 2020 review responding to the Black Lives Matter movement headed up by Sir Geoff Palmer who is Scotland's first black professor.
