THE family of Victorian-era prime minister William Gladstone will travel to South America to apologise for the part their ancestor played in the slave trade, it was reported yesterday.

The Liberal Party hero — PM on four occasions in the 19^th century — was the son of John Gladstone, one of the largest slave owners in the British West Indies.

Charlie Gladstone, the great-great-great grandson of John, said he “felt absolutely sick” when he found out about his family’s slave-owning past.