SAFA — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government has rejected a renewed demand by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for a comprehensive public inquiry into Britain's role in Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, refusing to establish an independent investigation into British arms supplies, military surveillance operations, and political cooperation with Israel since October 2023.

Corbyn, now an independent MP, wrote to Burnham in July, shortly after he took office, urging him to support legislation establishing a wide-ranging investigation modeled on the Chilcot Inquiry into Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.

The proposed inquiry would examine the full extent of Britain's military, economic, and political cooperation with Israel throughout its war on Gaza, including the supply of weapons, surveillance flights conducted by the Royal Air Force (RAF), and the use of British military bases in connection with Israeli operations.

The legislation was previously introduced in Parliament under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer but was defeated at its second reading. Following Starmer's resignation, Corbyn revived the proposal and appealed directly to Burnham to reverse his predecessor's opposition to an independent investigation.

However, in a written response to a parliamentary question on Monday, the Burnham government rejected the need for such an inquiry, arguing that "extensive mechanisms already exist for parliamentary accountability and oversight."

The government gave no indication that it intended to reconsider its position or support an independent examination of Britain's involvement in the war.

Corbyn Challenges Government Over Complicity and Secrecy

Responding on Tuesday, Corbyn criticized the government's refusal and challenged Burnham to demonstrate that his administration would take a different approach from the previous Labour government.

Corbyn said Burnham's acknowledgment that the previous government "got it wrong" over Gaza would "mean very little if he doesn't break with the last government's shameful record of complicity, secrecy and evasion."

The dispute comes amid continuing scrutiny of Britain's military relationship with Israel, particularly the supply of weapons and military components, surveillance operations over Gaza, and the extent of intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

Britain has continued supplying certain military equipment and components to Israel during the war, which has killed more than 74,480 Palestinians and displaced much of Gaza's population, according to the figures cited in the report.

The Royal Air Force has also conducted hundreds of surveillance flights over Gaza, with official statements and media reports documenting British intelligence-gathering operations during Israel's military campaign.

These activities have prompted demands for greater transparency over how British military resources have been used and whether government decisions have contributed to Israel's operations in Gaza.

Calls Grow for Independent Scrutiny of Britain's Role

Corbyn has argued that existing parliamentary oversight mechanisms are insufficient to establish the full extent of Britain's cooperation with Israel and that an independent inquiry is necessary to examine decisions taken by ministers and military officials since October 2023.

His proposed legislation seeks to investigate arms supplies, surveillance flights, the use of RAF bases, and other forms of military, economic, and political cooperation, with the aim of establishing a public record of Britain's involvement.

"Delaying scrutiny will not make questions about British complicity in genocide disappear," Corbyn wrote.

"The public deserve to know the full extent of Britain's military, economic and political cooperation with Israel, including arms supplies, surveillance flights and the use of RAF bases," he added.

Corbyn also questioned why the government would oppose an independent investigation if it believed its actions could withstand public scrutiny.

"It's not complicated: if the government has nothing to hide, then why block our efforts to expose the truth?" he continued.

The government's rejection leaves Corbyn's demand for a Chilcot-style inquiry unresolved, with questions over British arms exports, intelligence operations, and military cooperation remaining at the center of calls for accountability.

For Corbyn, the issue extends beyond the previous government's decisions to whether Burnham's administration is prepared to subject Britain's involvement in Israel's war on Gaza to comprehensive and independent public scrutiny.