In an article I published with the ‘Arena’ in March[1]I wrote that ‘the Labour party’s handling of the war and energy crisis could indirectly affect the outcome of the May elections in Britain’. Almost three months after writing this article, the editor sent me a message saying what you had said happened. The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced his resignation. Keir Starmer led the Government for almost two years after achieving a landslide victory over the Conservative Party, which was in power for 14 years.

What I didn’t know back then is that Andy Burnham, who was sworn in as an MP on the day of the PM’s resignation this week, is the politician who set himself the goal to become the next Labour leader and UK Prime Minister. Andy Burnham’s landslide victory over Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election paved the way to achieve this goal. Burnham has defeated the same party that has decimated the former ruling Conservative Party. Since 2024, many Conservative MPs have defected to Reform UK, including Reform’s Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick.

The impact of the conflict in the Middle East on UK politics and society is no longer minor. Despite the ongoing Iran-US peace talks, the situation on the ground in the Middle East and in the UK remains difficult. The peace deal is fragile. During the weekend, on 20 June, Hezbollah fired 176 projectiles at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Five Israeli soldiers were killed in multiple incidents.

The cost of energy, mortgages and food is hitting households across the UK, and the poorest hardest. In her statement to Parliament [2]Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighted that “the conflict in the Middle East poses a significant challenge to the world economy – including our........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)