Andy Burnham is set to become Labour leader and likely prime minister after being backed by 322 Labour MPs and facing no challengers for the party leadership. With the nomination deadline passing, he is expected to be formally declared leader at a party event later next week, following preparations after his return to Parliament in the Makerfield by-election. In a video posted on social media, Burnham apologises for Labour’s initial stance on Israel’s war in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and that its response “has too often not been good enough”. He says the UK has been “too slow” to call for a ceasefire, and he calls for a stronger approach, including further sanctions targeting Israeli settlers and additional measures to restrict trade in goods linked to illegal settlements.
Burnham also reiterates condemnation of the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks and says antisemitism must be stamped out in Britain. On the legal characterisation of the conflict, he avoids stating that Israel is committing genocide, while saying there is increasing evidence that war crimes may have been committed and that the determination should be left to international courts rather than politicians. The reports also note that Burnham points to some actions already taken by the government under Keir Starmer, while arguing further steps are needed.
