UK Prime Minister Candidate Andy Burnham Criticizes Israel and Proposes Sanctions Over Gaza Conflict

Following the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month, Andy Burnham, the leading candidate to replace him and a member of Starmer's Labour Party, has signaled a sharp shift in the party's Middle East policy. Burnham publicly apologized for Labour's insufficient support for Gaza residents during Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, which began after Hamas's attack on October 7. In an interview with The Guardian, Burnham pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government if elected, including considering additional sanctions against Israeli individuals and entities, as well as a possible trade boycott of goods from West Bank settlements.

Burnham's dramatic stance aims to appease the party's progressive wing, whose voters felt betrayed by Starmer's perceived lack of support for Palestinians. He openly admitted that the UK was slow to call for a ceasefire and described the situation in Gaza as a "scar on the collective conscience." However, Burnham declined to label the conflict as genocide, stating such determinations should be made by international courts rather than politicians.

While Burnham's comments mark a departure from Starmer's approach, which included justifying Israel's disconnection of electricity and water to Gaza in 2023 and only recognizing a Palestinian state in 2025 after internal pressure, Burnham also sought to reassure British Jewish communities. He condemned the atrocities of October 7 and expressed deep concern over rising antisemitism in the UK, emphasizing that criticizing Netanyahu's government does not conflict with zero tolerance for antisemitism.