Keir Starmer left Downing Street with a legacy heavily complicated by a single radio interview. When Starmer told LBC in late 2023 that Israel had the right to cut off power and water to Gaza, he triggered a fracture within the Labour party that never fully healed. Now, prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham is attempting to mend that self-inflicted wound.
Burnham issued a direct apology for Labour’s early handling of the Gaza conflict. He admitted plainly that the party did not get it right and acknowledged that the British government was far too slow to call for an immediate ceasefire. It is a highly calculated attempt to win back the progressive and Muslim voters who abandoned Labour over the last three years. Also making news in this space: Why Germany Cannot Afford To Ignore Its Rising Heatwave Mortality.
The Strategic Reset After Starmer
Voters who left Labour over Gaza want to know if Burnham's apology means a genuine policy shift or if it is just a change in tone.
The anger among the progressive flank is not abstract. It cost Labour five parliamentary seats in the 2024 general election, which were lost to pro-Palestinian independent candidates. In local elections, inner-city strongholds crumbled, swinging heavily to the Green Party. An Opinium poll revealed that two-thirds of former Labour voters who switched to the Greens cited Labour’s stance on Gaza as the main reason. Burnham knows he cannot build a stable governing coalition while bleeding these voters. Further information regarding the matter are explored by USA.gov.
Burnham's approach deviates significantly from his 2015 leadership campaign. Back then, he promised that his first overseas trip as leader would be to Israel. The version of Burnham we see today has shifted alongside his party’s grassroots. He has spent the last several years as Mayor of Greater Manchester, a position that required him to face communities directly affected by global conflicts. In October 2023, he broke ranks with Starmer to call for an immediate ceasefire. By 2025, he signed a letter demanding the formal recognition of a Palestinian state, a move Starmer eventually conceded to later that year.
What a Burnham Government Means for UK Israel Policy
Burnham's strategy involves distinct policy commitments designed to go further than the measures Starmer implemented. While Starmer eventually restricted some arms export licenses and sanctioned specific far-right ministers, Burnham plans to target the economic drivers of the occupation.
- Settlement Trade Bans: Burnham stated he is looking at measures to ban trade in goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- Targeted Sanctions: He plans to expand sanctions against individuals and entities involved in settler violence, which has surged dramatically.
- A Shift in Rhetoric: Describing the destruction of Gaza as a scar on our collective conscience signal a sharp break from the cautious legalistic language used by the previous leadership.
Yet, this shift creates immediate tension on the left. Burnham refuses to use the word genocide. He noted that while there is increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed, the final determination must belong to international courts rather than politicians.
This middle ground has already drawn sharp criticism. Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali pointed out that Burnham has no problem labeling Russian actions in Ukraine as war crimes without waiting for a court verdict. Critics argue that by hiding behind the international courts, Burnham avoids the legal obligation to instantly halt all UK arms sales to Israel, including components for F-35 fighter jets.
Balancing Local Antisemitism and Foreign Policy
Burnham's biggest domestic challenge is managing the fallout of this policy shift within the UK. Greater Manchester has one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, and Burnham has seen the rise of antisemitism firsthand.
He is walking a tightrope. He has consistently condemned the October 7 attacks by Hamas and insisted that holding the government of Benjamin Netanyahu accountable does not contradict a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism.
Starmer's Gaza Stance (2023) -> Backed Israel's early siege tactics -> Lost 5 MPs & core progressive voters
↓
Burnham's Apology (2026) -> Promises settlement trade bans -> Trying to rebuild the electoral coalition
The political strategy here is obvious. Starmer was determined to distance himself from Jeremy Corbyn, which made him overcorrect on foreign policy and ignore early warning signs from his own backbenchers. Burnham does not have that baggage. He views this as a reset moment.
Turning Words Into Action
If you want to track whether Burnham's apology is genuine or merely electoral posturing, watch how his incoming administration handles these specific areas:
- The F-35 Dilemma: Watch whether his government halts the export of British-made spare parts for Israeli stealth fighters.
- The House of Lords Fight: David Miliband is rumored to be Burnham’s choice for Foreign Secretary, a move that would require appointing him to the House of Lords. Miliband's alignment with Burnham's foreign policy will dictate how aggressively the UK challenges the Netanyahu government.
- Proscription of Activist Groups: The Court of Appeal recently blocked the government's attempt to ban the direct action group Palestine Action. How Burnham's Home Office responds will reveal his true tolerance for domestic pro-Palestinian agitation.
