Andy Burnham Emerges as Likely Next Labour Leader Amid Shift in Israel Policy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement that he is stepping down has effectively opened the way for Andy Burnham, the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, to move toward Downing Street. If no major surprises intervene, Burnham could become Britain’s seventh prime minister in just one decade, and Labour’s new leader, possibly without a contested leadership race. That outcome is not guaranteed, however, because other hopefuls, including former health secretary Wes Streeting, may still run.

Burnham, 56, has been mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He returned to parliament this week after winning a by-election in the Manchester-area seat of Makerfield with 55 percent of the vote, far ahead of Reform UK’s 34 percent. The seat was created for him after an ally resigned, since holding a Commons seat is required to lead Labour. The result strengthened the view that he is the party’s strongest challenger to Nigel Farage and the best positioned to help Labour in the next general election.

In his victory speech, Burnham said, “Everyone knows politics today is not working. Everyone feels the country is not where it should be. Tonight may be a turning point.” He warned Labour members, “We have to act, we will not get another chance.” British media has dubbed him the “King of the North” because of his ability to confront Westminster on behalf of northern England, especially during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Burnham is a veteran politician who served as an MP from 2001 to 2017 and held ministerial posts under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He ran unsuccessfully for Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, losing the second time to Jeremy Corbyn. Known as a soft-left figure, he has focused on the cost of living, backing nationalization of essential services such as water, power and public transport, while also softening earlier criticism of Labour’s fiscal rules.

On Israel, Burnham once strongly supported the country, opposed BDS, and promised in 2015 that his first foreign visit as leader would be to Israel. More recently he has taken a somewhat more critical line than Starmer, calling for a ceasefire after the Hamas attack of October 7, backing recognition of a Palestinian state, and describing it as a right rather than a gift. Still, like Starmer, he refuses to accuse Israel of genocide. Zarah Sultana, who left Labour, attacked him from the left, accusing him of supporting Friends of Israel in Labour and calling him a Zionist.