Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and needs to “do better” under his leadership. The prime minister-in-waiting told the Guardian he would increase pressure on the Israeli government through further sanctions and a potential ban on trade with illegal settlements.
Burnham acknowledged that many people felt the party’s response at the start of the conflict was inadequate. “The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better,” he said. However, he stopped short of describing events in Gaza as genocide, stating that it was for international courts to make that determination.
The apology comes as Labour seeks to win back progressive voters who have abandoned the party over its stance on Israel and Palestine. A June poll by Opinium for the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign found that two-thirds of Labour voters who switched to the Greens cited Gaza as a factor.
Burnham noted that the government had taken steps including formal recognition of Palestine, sanctions on Israeli ministers and violent settlers, and restrictions on arms licences. But he acknowledged that the UK was “too slow to call for a ceasefire” and must strengthen its approach.
The Green party deputy leader, Mothin Ali, accused Burnham of hiding behind international courts to avoid admitting that war crimes were being committed, which would trigger a legal duty to halt arms sales. Burnham also sought to reassure Jewish communities, stressing a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism while holding the Netanyahu government to account.
