Amid the ongoing war in Gaza and a looming transition of power in the UK, Andy Burnham, Britain’s likely next Prime Minister, publicly apologized for the Labour Party’s initial stance on Israel’s military actions. Burnham stated his upcoming administration will actively work to “stop the suffering” in the Palestinian enclave.
The remarks follow outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation announcement on June 22. Burnham is running unopposed for the Labour Party leadership and is scheduled to officially assume the role at 10 Downing Street around July 20.
In an interview published Thursday, Burnham distanced himself from Starmer’s early response to the October 2023 conflict. He admitted the party “didn’t get it right” and was “too slow to call for a ceasefire” as the conflict expanded to involve Iran and Hezbollah.
Burnham confirmed he will push for accountability regarding the destruction in Gaza, though he noted that any formal determination of genocide must be made by international courts. This commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis marks a distinct break from Starmer, whose earlier preference for a humanitarian pause led to internal party resignations.
Outlining future policy, Burnham floated potential further sanctions against individuals involved in the violence and proposed measures to strictly ban UK trade in goods originating from illegal settlements.
The posture is a notable evolution for Burnham. During his 2015 leadership campaign, he was a member of Labour Friends of Israel and vowed his first overseas trip if elected would be to the country.