Britain’s prime minister-designate Andy Burnham has admitted Labour "didn’t get it right" on Gaza and signalled a tougher approach towards Israel, including potential sanctions, in what he described as a need to "strengthen" the UK’s response to the war.
In a video statement released on Thursday, Burnham said the UK had been "too slow" to call for a ceasefire during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza , adding: "We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government."
While he praised steps taken under Keir Starmer — including recognising the state of Palestine and sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers — Burnham’s remarks mark one of the clearest acknowledgements yet from a senior Labour figure that the party’s initial stance on the war fell short.
However, his comments stopped short of describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, a term widely used by international bodies, human rights groups and lawmakers to describe the events in the besieged enclave since October 2023.
Activists dismiss apology
The statement has drawn sharp criticism from leading pro-Palestine groups in the UK, who described Burnham’s apology as "totally inadequate" and urged immediate policy changes .
Speaking to The New Arab on Friday, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) deputy director Peter Leary said Burnham's admission reflected long-standing public pressure.
"By apologising and admitting that the government got it wrong, Andy Burnham has conceded what we have always known – it was the people, the millions who have steadfastly stood with Palestine, who got it right," Leary said.
"Burnham clearly wants to distance himself from Keir Starmer’s moral disgrace, but his statement remains totally inadequate. As the Palestinian people continue to confront Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and escalating colonial violence and apartheid across their homeland, we need meaningful action," he added.
Legal rights group Defend Our Juries (DoJ) also questioned Burnham’s motives, suggesting his shift reflected political pressure rather than principle.
"He knows that the Labour Government, which has not been forgiven for its complicity in the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, has hemorrhaged support over its active role in the genocide of Palestinians," the group said.
They added: "He knows his political future (and that of the Labour Party) now depends on his convincing the electorate that he’ll do everything in his power to put a stop to it."
Calls for concrete measures
Campaigners and NGOs have called on Burnham to translate his rhetoric into policy , including halting arms exports and imposing sanctions on Israel.
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries urged the Labour leader to "immediately end all trade, intelligence, military and diplomatic support for Israel, impose sanctions, and provide appropriate back up to the ICC and the ICJ."
The group also called for an end to the criminalisation of pro-Palestine activism in the UK, including "an amnesty for all members of Palestine Action".
In a joint statement to The New Arab , Hannah Bond and Taahra Ghazi, co-CEOs of ActionAid UK, welcomed Burnham’s acknowledgement but stressed the need for further action.
"The UK Government must now act decisively to right this wrong by finally ending arms sales to Israel, banning trade with illegal settlements, and suspending the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement," they said.
Legal and political pressure
Critics have also pointed to the legal implications of the government’s position, particularly in relation to international law.
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali said Burnham’s reluctance to label the war as genocide could carry consequences.
"If you asked Andy Burnham whether Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine, he’d say yes. But when it comes to Gaza, he hides behind the international courts because admitting that the British government knows war crimes are being committed would trigger a legal duty to immediately halt arms sales," Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali told The New Arab .
"International law is clear: all states have a duty to act to prevent genocide. Not to wait until the slaughter is over before acknowledging that it happened."