Andy Burnham apologises for Labour's Gaza stance and vows tougher pressure on Israel

Andy Burnham, the incoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom slated to take office on 20 July 2026, issued an apology for the Labour Party’s response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. He told The Guardian that many people feel the party “didn’t get it right” at the start of the conflict and said he was “shocked by the destruction in Gaza”. Burnham acknowledged “increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed” and stressed that final legal judgments should be left to international courts.

He pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government, including additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in the violence and the possibility of banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Burnham admitted the United Kingdom was “too slow to call for a cease‑fire” and said his government would act more swiftly. The statements are part of his effort to win back left‑wing voters who left Labour over its Gaza policy, a move that has drawn criticism from the Green Party and other progressive groups for not going far enough.

Analysts note the apology is largely symbolic, with questions about whether it will translate into substantive policy changes. Burnham entered the leadership race with 322 Labour MP nominations, positioning himself as the clear successor to Keir Starmer.