Like Blair and Starmer before him, Burnham has found his Middle East war

Former UK Labour leader Andy Burnham has found himself embroiled in a Middle East conflict as British RAF fighter jets are being deployed to Saudi Arabia to safeguard its cities and oil infrastructure from Yemeni Houthi attacks. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced the move last week, urging citizens to stockpile essentials due to the potential threat of attacks from hostile state actors, including Russia.

This development comes amid tensions between the US and Iran, with President Trump threatening renewed strikes against Iran and Tehran warning of retaliation against Western infrastructure in the region. The UK's involvement in the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen, which began in 2014, has put the nation's post-imperial interests at risk, as Gulf states hold vast sovereign wealth funds that enable them to acquire assets in the West.

Burnham's predecessor, Tony Blair, shut down an inquiry into the Al-Yamamah arms deal in 2007 after the Saudis threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing on terror threats. Burnham, a long-time supporter of the US-led order, has faced criticism for his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the privatization of water companies, despite promising to address wealth inequality in his political platform.