Andy Burnham has become the new leader of the UK Labour Party and prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer. In his first days, Burnham apologised for Labour's initial response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and needs to do better.
Burnham's apology signals a potential change in the UK's approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He has promised to put more pressure on Israel and listen more closely to grassroots party members. This marks a departure from Starmer's staunch support for Israel, including supplying arms and intelligence, which drew criticism from many Labour voters.
Starmer recognised Palestine as a state in September 2025, but critics said it was too little, too late. He also faced backlash for his comments in 2023 that Israel had the right to withhold water and food from Gaza, as well as for slow action on a ceasefire.
Burnham's shift is seen as partly tactical, aiming to win back voters who left Labour over Gaza. However, questions remain on whether he will implement substantive changes, such as calling Israel's actions a genocide, banning arms sales, or repealing the ban on the group Palestine Action.
The new prime minister faces pressure to take a stronger stand on Palestinian rights, but what concrete actions he will take remains to be seen.