UK Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham, now in parliament and poised to become prime minister as early as next month, previously declined to say Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Burnham told the Middle East Eye he cannot judge such matters from his former role as mayor of Greater Manchester, though he expressed concerns about the disproportionate nature of the destruction and called for investigation and accountability.
Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to succeed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Labour leader and UK premier, has a foreign-policy record that is drawing fresh scrutiny as he nears Downing Street.
According to an interview published by the Middle East Eye, Burnham — then still mayor of Greater Manchester — was notably reticent about foreign policy during his by-election campaign in Makerfield, a largely white working-class seat. His team believed engagement on the issue would not help him win. On the rare occasion he was asked about Israel and Gaza, Burnham declined to call Israel's actions genocide, saying he could not 'judge things of that enormity from where I am as mayor of Greater Manchester.' He did say he had 'concerns about the disproportionate nature of what has happened in terms of the destruction' and called for a 'full process of investigation and accountability.'
Now that Burnham has returned to parliament and is poised to become prime minister as early as next month, the remarks — reported by an outlet critical of Israeli policy — frame his position on an issue that will confront any British leader. The Zioneer has previously reported on Burnham's 2015 statement that his first foreign visit as Labour leader would be to Israel, as well as his ongoing leadership challenge against Starmer. The candidate has not issued a more detailed policy statement on Israel since entering parliament.
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