Critics say Burnham's Gaza apology lacked substance

Andy Burnham, the leading candidate to become Britain's next prime minister, recently apologised for his Labour Party's initial response to the Gaza conflict. In a video statement, he said the party 'got it wrong' and caused hurt. However, critics argue the apology was only a change in tone, not policy. Burnham distanced himself from previous Labour leader Keir Starmer's comments that appeared to support Israel cutting off water and power to Gaza. But he did not address ongoing British support for Israeli military actions or arms sales, according to commentators. Some observers note that Burnham's apology came as Labour loses supporters to left-wing parties over the Gaza issue. They suggest the move was aimed at winning back voters rather than a genuine policy shift. Burnham himself has a history of changing positions on foreign policy. He voted for the Iraq war in 2003, defended it later, then expressed regret in 2024 when politically convenient. Critics say his Gaza apology follows the same pattern. The article, published by Middle East Eye, claims that Burnham's statement contained no new ideas for how Britain should approach the conflict. It concludes that the apology was 'vibes' without substance. Burnham has not responded to the criticism.