Timothy accuses Burnham of ‘lacking courage’ to reject Israel ‘Gaza genocide’ claims

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has accused Andy Burnham, the likely next Labour Prime Minister, of being among political leaders who “lack the courage” to reject the claim that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Conservative Friends of Israel annual fundraising lunch, Timothy also accused outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “continuing” the policies of Jeremy Corbyn in his stance on Israel.

In a speech introduced by party leader Kemi Badenoch, which received a standing ovation from those in attendance, Timothy said: “Starmer will be gone soon, but his successor is no better.

“When asked if Israel had committed a genocide, Andy Burnham said: ‘I can’t judge.'”

Timothy continued: “Well, I can. The war in Gaza is no genocide, and to use that language is deliberate, offensive, and a provocation to Israel, to Jews, and to people who really did suffer that terrible crime against humanity.

“Those who make that appalling and baseless claim, and those who lack the courage to reject it, are cowards… Their actions reveal something bigger, something terrible, tearing the country apart.”

Speaking to a packed hall—including over 400 attendees, more than 100 Conservative parliamentarians, and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis—Timothy added: “The Labour Party got rid of Jeremy Corbyn but continued his policies toward Israel.”

The shadow minister also reflected on the key role he and others played in exposing the ban by West Midlands Police on Israeli fans attending the Aston Villa–Maccabi Tel Aviv football match in November 2025. He reflected,”The frog boiled and the police found themselves outsourcing their decisions to ‘community leaders’, making themselves the willing tools of antisemites … and lying to Parliament about doing so.”

“Justice was replaced by injustice,” added Timothy. “Equality before the law was lost to ethnic favouritism.”

He called for government action on the Muslim Brotherhood and the IRGC, and urged banning the weekly protests that “intimidate Jews.”

Earlier Timothy was praised by Badenoch who said she appointed him because he was “never afraid to speak uncomfortable truths.”

The Tory leader also claimed that since she spoke at the previous CFI lunch last year “we now have new MPs elected on openly sectarian platforms.”

She slammed Labour’s approach to Israel, and said she and her party viewed Israel’s “fight against Islamist terrorism” as not being one it should fight alone.

Outgoing Chargé d’affaires at the Israeli Embassy in London Daniella  Ekstein also praised the Conservative Party’s strong support for Israel when she spoke.

CFI Parliamentary Chair (House of Commons) Greg Smith MP told Monday’s event at a central London venue: “As the Shadow Justice Secretary warned today, a change of face in Number 10 will not lead to a change in policy from this Labour government towards Israel.

“And with Israel’s opponents in the House of Commons ensuring that Israel is singled out for a disproportionate level of debate and criticism, there is a desperate need for balance and evidence-led argument.

“CFI will continue to stand with Britain’s Jewish community, strengthen the UK-Israel relationship, and ensure Conservative parliamentarians are equipped with the knowledge and understanding needed to engage thoughtfully with one of the world’s most complex regions.”

CFI Parliamentary Chair (House of Lords) Lord Pickles added: “We have witnessed a deeply troubling rise in antisemitism in the UK since the 7 October attacks.

“While criticism of any government is entirely legitimate in a democracy, too often anti-Israel activism crosses the line into hostility towards Jewish people.

“When Israel is demonised, held to standards applied to no other nation, or used as a pretext for intimidating British Jews, we should recognise that for what it is and challenge it without hesitation.”

CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE also said: “For more than half a century, CFI has helped parliamentarians develop a deeper understanding of Israel and the wider Middle East.

“That mission has never been more important.”