UK mayor urged to launch probe into British complicity in Gaza war
The opinion piece argues that delaying scrutiny will not make questions about UK complicity in Gaza disappear. It references the Iraq War inquiry as a precedent for investigating government actions. The author calls on Burnham to establish an inquiry into Britain's role in the Gaza genocide.
The article draws parallels between the delayed Chilcot Inquiry into the 2003 Iraq War and current demands for scrutiny of UK actions regarding Gaza. That earlier inquiry took six years to establish and seven more to publish, ultimately finding Tony Blair had exaggerated threats and misled the public. More recently, Jeremy Corbyn's proposed inquiry bill gained support from over 50 MPs but was blocked by the Starmer government, which deemed it unnecessary. In response, Corbyn organized a public tribunal in the Russell Tribunal tradition, hearing 29 testimonies from witnesses, journalists, and legal experts in September 2025.
The piece specifically urges Andy Burnham to act, noting potential UK involvement includes weapons sales, surveillance aircraft, and RAF base usage since October 2023. The author, Neve Gordon, is a law professor at Queen Mary University of London and a Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences.
This story could shape public debate about government accountability regarding foreign policy decisions. It may pressure regional leaders like Burnham to act where national government has declined, potentially creating political friction. The Iraq inquiry comparison suggests that delaying scrutiny rarely resolves questions about state actions, and this could affect trust in institutions among readers concerned with human rights and international law.