The real Andy Burnham

In an opinion piece, Leo Pearlman argues that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's appointments, particularly Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary and Andy Slaughter as Solicitor General, reveal a tougher stance toward Israel than his speeches suggest. Pearlman cites their records of criticizing Israel and supporting Palestinian statehood, contrasting with Burnham's praise for Jewish Care, and warns of implications for Britain's Jewish community.

In this opinion piece, Leo Pearlman argues that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's appointments reveal his true intentions more than his speeches. Pearlman notes that Burnham's first major foreign policy intervention criticized Keir Starmer's handling of Gaza and adopted a tougher tone toward Israel, while later praising Jewish Care. However, Pearlman contends that appointments, unlike speeches, are decisions made largely by the Prime Minister alone and thus offer clearer insight into his instincts. He focuses on two appointments: Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his long record of supporting Palestinian statehood and criticizing Israel, and Andy Slaughter as Solicitor General, highlighting his past actions such as traveling with Jeremy Corbyn to meet Hamas-linked legislators in 2010 and accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and fabricating reasons for killings. Pearlman suggests these appointments indicate a shift in Britain's approach to Israel, which concerns him given the international pressure on Israel and rising anti-Zionism.