Andy Burnham, newly positioned as the de facto prime minister, has signaled a tougher stance towards Israel regarding its military operations in Gaza. In a social media video released Friday, Burnham apologized for Labour's previous position under Sir Keir Starmer, stating the party "didn't get it right" and had been "too slow to call for a ceasefire." This move appears aimed at appealing to the hard left of the Labour party, including members of the Socialist Campaign Group who supported former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Burnham suggested that his government would "do more to strengthen our approach," including the possibility of "further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements." His comments follow an article in The Times where he outlined a commitment to foreign policy stability, including maintaining close ties with NATO, the nuclear deterrent, the United States, and supporting Ukraine, as well as closer relations with the European Union.
The announcement drew praise from some within the party. Clive Lewis, a former shadow minister and ex-leadership contender, called the Gaza statement "an important and much-needed first step," urging it to be followed by a full arms embargo and a ban on trade with illegal West Bank settlements. He stated that for too long, the Labour government had fallen short of its obligations under international law and basic morality.
Andy McDonald, another former shadow minister, described Burnham's statement as "a majorly positive step in the right direction." James Murray, the Health Secretary, also agreed that the UK had been too slow to call for a ceasefire, stating to Times Radio that "by the time we called for a ceasefire, it was overdue."
Burnham secured the backing of 322 Labour MPs, a number that effectively precludes any leadership contest. However, a portion of the 78 MPs who had not backed him by Thursday evening were from the party's far left, including John McDonnell and Richard Burgon.
Israel has conducted strikes in Gaza since a U.S.-mediated ceasefire with Hamas was reached last October, asserting it is targeting militants who threaten its forces or participated in the October 2023 attack. Nikolay Mladenov, U.S. President Donald Trump's appointed Board of Peace envoy to Gaza, has stated that both sides have violated the agreement. According to figures released by both parties, over 1,080 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect nine months ago.