This Monday, 13 July 2026, environmental organisation Friends of the Earth is taking out a one-page advert in The Guardian newspaper calling on the government to change direction on Palestine.
The advert will draw from recent polling which highlights how voters are leaving Labour because of its record on Palestine. The polling, from Opinium, commissioned by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of the Earth, explores the views of former Labour voters who now intend to support another progressive party or independent candidate.
The findings examine the role that the conflict in Gaza has played in voters’ decisions to leave Labour, alongside attitudes towards the UK government’s approach to Israel and the potential electoral implications for the party. The research highlights that Gaza was an important factor in the decision to switch party for many former Labour voters, particularly younger voters and Green Party supporters, while support for stronger UK action on Israel was widespread among those surveyed.
The Guardian advert also highlights FoE’s demands on the new government as follows: –
- Impose an immediate and full arms embargo on Israel and end all military support.
- Ban trade and investment with illegal Israeli settlements.
- Expand sanctions on people and entities engaged in violations of Palestinian rights.
- Suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
- Take steps to end support for the Israeli occupation by enacting all measures recommended by the International Court of Justice.
- Protect the right to protest and repeal restrictions targeting the Palestine solidarity movement.
- Recognise the environmental devastation caused in Gaza and the West Bank as a key part of the UK’s response on Palestine.
- Set up a taskforce and a clear timeline to implement the above measures.
Friends of the Earth want to make an impact with the incoming prime minister Andy Burnham and they want local action groups and other activists to help. Here’s what you can do.
- Buy a copy of The Guardian on 13 July.
- Take a photo with the ad in a well-known location in your community and post it online, tagging your MP as well as Andy Burnham (see below for his social media handles). Use the hashtag #Palestine when you post.
- Post or hand deliver the advert to your local MP, along with a hand-written note on why you want the government to change direction on Palestine. If you can include quotes from members of your community that will be especially powerful.
FoE hope that people will make their voices heard quickly and ideally over the coming days (if not weeks) so that they can influence the new government while it is putting together its policies and plans.
Andy Burnham’s social media handles
Instagram: @andy.burnham
X: @andyburnham + @andyburnhamHQ
Facebook: @BurnhamGM
Bluesky: @andyburnham.bsky.social
TikTok: @andy.burnham
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