But how far back are we going with this? Can the English claim compensation from the French for the fact that the Normans effectively enslaved the English back in 1066? What about the 'damage' bought about by the Romans in their conquests?

I believe that slavers used to raid Cornish villages and sell the people into slavery in North Africa. Has there ever been any apology for that?

I think that our lords and masters would be better occupied putting an end to abominations like the genocide in Darfur than in making mealy mouthed apologies just to make themselves look good in the history books.