UK Labour Party

UK Jewish groups express concern as the likely next PM Andy Burnham criticizes Israel over Gaza

Andy Burnham apologized for Labour’s early Gaza response and called for greater pressure on Israel, prompting British Jewish leaders to raise concerns over his remarks.

|ByKELLY HARTOG/JTA
Labour MP and challenger for Leader of the Labour party, Andy Burnham, arrives at Millbank studios in Westminster, central London, on July 2, 2026.
Andy Burnham, British member of parliament (MP) for Makerfield, delivers a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, Britain, June 29, 2026.

Incoming UK PM Andy Burnham urges to ramp up pressure on Israel and ban settlement goods

"We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government ... Yes, we have taken some important steps ... But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire," said Burnham.

|ByREUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces the timeline for his resignation, following Andy Burnham's decisive victory last week in the Makerfield by-election, outside 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, June 22, 2026.

Andy Burnham’s rise forced Keir Starmer from Downing Street - opinion

Like Moses, Sir Keir Starmer will not bring his people into the promised land, whatever that looks like, but it will be Burnham who adopts the role of Joshua.

|ByNIGEL LITHMAN
NEWLY ELECTED Makerfield MP Andy Burnham of Britain's Labour Party greets a supporter following his victory in the Makerfield by-election, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP John Simons, at the The Edge Wigan in Wigan, Britain, June 19, 2026.

Andy Burnham's election to parliament sets up bid to oust UK PM Starmer

Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor nicknamed the "King of the North," won the contest in Makerfield in northwest England with 54.8% of the vote.

|ByREUTERS

Jewish politician returns to UK Labour Party after leaving over antisemitism concerns 

Luciana Berger has rejoined the Labour Party after leaving over antisemitism while the party was under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

JANUARY 15, 2024ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Luciana Berger, a member of parliament with the Independent Group, leaves a building after media interviews near Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, Britain February 21, 2019.

Israel 'worse than Nazis,' Gaza is a concentration camp - former UK MP

Chris Williamson, a former Labour MP, has claimed that Israel is an apartheid regime and that the IDF killed Israeli civilians in Hamas' October 7 attack.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Official portrait of Chris Williamson

UK Labour lawmaker quits policy role over party's Gaza stance

Last week, Starmer said a ceasefire at this stage would leave Hamas with the infrastructure and capability to carry out the sort of attack it launched on Oct. 7 on Israel.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023ByREUTERS
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer attend a general election campaign meeting in Harlow, Britain November 5, 2019.

UK's Labour erases apartheid claims from anti-Israel event, Corbyn irate

Renaming a Palestinian Solidarity Campaign event, to exclude accusations of apartheid against Israel, has ruffled more than a few feathers.

OCTOBER 6, 2023ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attend a protest following a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence, in London, Britain May 22, 2021.

Suspended UK MP Diane Abbott claims unfairness in antisemitism probe

Abbott wrote that “As a Black woman, and someone on the left of the Labour Party...I will not get a fair hearing.”

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn applauds after the speech of Labour party MP and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott during the Labour Party annual conference in Brighton, Britain September 22, 2019.

UK Labour MP suspended after saying Jews don't experience racism

Abbott wrote that Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers were subjected to prejudice that can be experienced by groups "such as redheads."

APRIL 23, 2023ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Labour party MP and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott speaks during the Labour Party annual conference in Brighton, Britain September 22, 2019.

UK Labour leader: Jeremy Corbyn will not be a Labour candidate in next elections

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer makes a definitive effort to purge antisemitism from the party and announces that Jeremy Corbyn will not stand as their candidate in the next election.

FEBRUARY 15, 2023ByREUTERS
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer attend a general election campaign meeting in Harlow, Britain November 5, 2019.

UK Labour lawmaker calls Israel a fascist state in parliament, apologizes hours later

Labour leader Keir Starmer has sought to move his party past the years of antisemitism controversy that marked his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure.

FEBRUARY 3, 2023ByDAVID I. KLEIN/JTA
Official portrait of UK MP Kim Johnson.

UK PM Sunak gets fined by police for failing to wear seat belt

Sunak filmed a video in the back seat of his car while travelling in the north of England, without wearing a seat belt.

JANUARY 20, 2023ByREUTERS
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak exiting 10 Downing Street on December 14, 2022.

Jeremy Corbyn won't run with UK's Labour, leader Starmer says

Labour suspended Corbyn in 2020 after a report found that the party mishandled antisemitism complaints in a way that broke the law.

DECEMBER 5, 2022ByLAHAV HARKOV
Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn acknowledges his audience prior to giving his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Britain, September 27, 2017.