Andy Burnham apology for Labour stance on Gaza: Is UK’s position shifting?
East Africa News
Likely incoming UK PM hints at policy shifts towards Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. But analysts are wary.
Andy Burnham, the Labour politician widely seen as the United Kingdom’s prime minister-in-waiting, has issued an apology for his party’s stance on Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and says he will increase pressure on Israel.
Burnham, the former Manchester Mayor who re-entered parliament in June by winning a by-election in the Makerfield constituency, said his party “didn’t get it right” on the war on Gaza and “needs to do better” once he is leader.
Regional Impact
Although a leadership contest is theoretically under way in the UK following the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer over dismal May election results and his sinking popularity, no one else has put themselves forward for the race. Therefore, Burnham is expected to be prime minister by the end of this month.
In a video message posted on social media on Thursday, he said the “unbearable suffering” in Gaza following two years of relentless bombardment by Israeli forces is a “scar on our collective conscience”, but stopped short of calling Israel’s assaults on occupied Palestinian territory a genocidal military campaign.
Under Starmer, the Labour position on Palestine has evolved, but the government has indicated its strong support for Israel by proscribing the action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation last year, and by failing to ban all weapons sales to Israel.
Analysis
Do Burnham’s strong remarks on Israel’s war on Gaza mean the UK government under his leadership will shift its position?
What did Andy Burnham say about Gaza?
On Thursday, Burnham, 56, posted a video on social media as part of a question-and-answer series in which he explains how he intends to deal with specific issues as prime minister.
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