Andy Burnham’s Apology: A Shift in Labour’s Gaza Stance?

Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza

July 2026

In numerous posts we have commented on the war in Gaza and more recently in Lebanon, and noted the shameful approach by the British government under Sir Keir Starmer the departing prime minister. We commented on the arms sales which continued despite the terrible events, the diplomatic support for Israel, the hundreds of overflights of Gaza by the RAF, the continued support for Elbit Systems and prosecution of those who call out this support and call for the recognition of Palestine.

It now seems that the likely new prime minister, Andy Burnham (image: Middle East Eye), has recognised these errors and has announced that the party ‘didn’t get it right’ and ‘we need to do better’. If this is carried through into policy then it will be very welcome. What no one has picked up in the media is the timing of this announcement which came on the day that nominations closed for the leadership election. Could this be a fear of the hundreds of MPs who are members of the Friends of Israel groups?

Sir Keir Starmer alienated many of his supporters by his approach to Israel. His statement that Israel had every right to cut off water and power shocked many and attempts to back track never really healed the damage. It showed a politician desperate to shake off the ‘anti-Semitic’ criticism more or less at all costs. Many were doubly shocked because of his human rights background. It was one of the factors which led to his defenestration. Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic.

We have to be wary of course since many politicians make statements like this. He has to face a massive and well funded lobby in parliament, a media much of which is supportive of the Israelis and a BBC which even today (10 July) was quibbling on the Today programme whether it is a genocide or not because it hadn’t been legally decided yet.

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