Key facts
- Jeremy Corbyn has reintroduced a bill seeking an inquiry into Britain's alleged complicity in genocide in Gaza.
- Andy Burnham, a potential future Labour leader, has expressed concerns about the destruction in Gaza and called for accountability.
- Labour has seen a significant loss of votes to the Green Party, with the conflict in Gaza cited as a contributing factor.
- Labour MP Kim Johnson urged Andy Burnham to adopt a clearer stance on Gaza to regain lost voters.
- Burnham has a history of engagement with Middle East policy, including past ties to pro-Israel groups and support for Palestinian statehood.
Jeremy Corbyn has reintroduced a bill that calls for an inquiry into Britain's alleged complicity in genocide in Gaza. This move comes as potential future Labour leader Andy Burnham faces increasing pressure to articulate a clear foreign policy stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Burnham, currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has largely avoided commenting on foreign policy, with sources suggesting it was to aid his election prospects. However, he has expressed concerns about the "disproportionate nature" of the destruction in Gaza and called for investigation and accountability. The conflict has resulted in over 73,000 Palestinian deaths and 1,200 deaths in Israel since October 7, 2023.
Labour has experienced significant voter attrition, particularly to the Green Party, with the situation in Gaza cited as a key reason by former Labour voters. Labour MP Kim Johnson emphasized that Burnham must demonstrate "moral clarity" on Gaza to regain these voters, arguing that the party's silence has alienated its base and come at a considerable political cost.
Burnham has a complex history with Middle East policy, having previously joined the Labour Friends of Israel in 2015. However, he has also been critical of Israeli government actions, calling Netanyahu's re-election "depressing" and supporting the recognition of Palestinian statehood. He has also visited the occupied West Bank and expressed gratitude for Caabu's work.
Chris Doyle, director of Caabu, stated that the next British prime minister will need to make a "significant course correction" on Middle East foreign policy, including ending Israel's "climate of impunity" and backing international law. Burnham previously broke ranks with the Labour leadership by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.