A total of 322 Labour MPs have formally backed Andy Burnham to be the next party leader on the first day of nominations, clearing his path to become prime minister uncontested. The former Manchester mayor, who returned to Parliament by winning a by-election in Makerfield, is expected to be declared Labour leader at a party event at the end of next week and become prime minister on 20 July.
Burnham distances from Starmer's Gaza stance
In a video posted to social media, Burnham apologised for Labour's initial response to Israel's military action in Gaza. '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,' he said. 'The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better.'
While acknowledging that Labour had since recognised a Palestinian state, imposed restrictions on arms exports and sanctioned some Israeli ministers, Burnham indicated his government would go further. 'Let's be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire and we must now do more to strengthen our approach,' he said, adding that action would include 'looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements.'
No genocide accusation, but war crimes evidence noted
Burnham stopped short of accusing Israel of genocide, as some Labour MPs had demanded of Sir Keir Starmer. He said there was 'increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed,' but stressed that determination was a matter for international courts, not politicians. He described the destruction of Gaza as 'a scar on our collective conscience' and reiterated condemnation of Hamas's October 7 2023 attack and antisemitic violence in Britain: 'We must continue to stamp out antisemitism across the UK.'
Policy direction and northern No 10 unit
In a speech in Manchester last week, Burnham outlined plans to establish a new No 10 unit in the north tasked with handing local government more control over housing and transport. He also pledged to give all parts of the UK 'greater public control' of water and energy sectors, though other details remain scant.
