The UK’s likely incoming prime minister and Labour MP Andy Burnham apologised that his party “didn’t get it right” in its response to Israel’s war in Gaza and pledged stronger action against Israel if he takes power.
“I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza, my party didn’t get it right, and I am sorry about that,” Burnham said in a video posted on X on Thursday, adding that “the response has, too often, not been good enough. We need to do better.”
He said that the UK was “too slow to call for a ceasefire” and highlighted that “we’ve got to do more to put pressure on Israel”, including “further sanctions” on illegal Israel settlements and restricting arms licences for Israel.
Burnham fell short of calling Israel’s actions genocidal, claiming that although war crimes “appear to have been committed”, it is up to “international courts to determine, rather than politicians”.
Labour’s initial response to the treatment of Gaza caused huge hurt. We got it wrong and I am sorry for that. pic.twitter.com/MtQxhp71J3
— Andy Burnham (@andyburnham) July 9, 2026
