Incoming prime minister Andy Burnham is facing a major backlash today for vowing to take a tougher line with Israel and saying Keir Starmer was too slow to criticise its bloody attack on Gaza.Mr Burnham, set to be appointed Sir Keir's successor without a vote, was praised by hard Left backbenchers as he signalled a tougher stance towards Tel Aviv over its military operations following the October Hamas atrocity.But the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council said they had concerns with remarks made by the Makerfield MP on social media last night.He suggested that his government would 'do more to strengthen our approach', including 'looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements'.His comments followed an article in The Times in which he said he would seek stability in foreign policy, setting out his commitment to Nato, the nuclear deterrent, maintaining close ties with the US and support for Ukraine as well as closer relations with the EU. In a joint statement the BoD and JLC said they had contacted his team 'to convey directly our significant concerns'.'We welcome his zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism, affirm his assertion that there is no contradiction between fighting anti-Semitism and disagreeing with actions of the Israeli government, and share concern for the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,' they said.'However, anti-Semitism cannot be confronted without addressing all its drivers. In today's Britain, this includes Islamist, far left and far right extremists who go beyond criticism of the Israeli government to a place of hatred directed at Jews and Israelis. 'These voices build on distorted or one-sided portrayals of the situation in Gaza and its causes, and ceaseless attempts to single out the world's only Jewish state.'The de-facto prime minister signalled a tougher stance towards Tel Aviv over its military operations in Gaza following the October Hamas atrocity In a video on social media, he apologised for Labour's previous stance, saying his party 'didn't get it right' under Sir Keir Starmer and the UK had been 'too slow to call for a ceasefire'Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel added: 'Andy Burnham is trying to please everyone but will end up pleasing no-one.'He has no answers to the problems facing our country and no plan for how to keep us safe. In one breath he promises stronger relationships with our allies, and in the next he attacks Israel just to pander to Labour back benchers and the pro-Palestine left.'Israel has faced international condemnation for its heavy-handed response to the October 7 attack. Its military action left thousands dead and it has repeatedly carried out strikes in Gaza since a US-mediated ceasefire with Hamas was reached last October.Nikolay Mladenov, US President Donald Trump's appointed Board of Peace envoy to Gaza, has said both sides have violated the agreement.Since the ceasefire took effect nine months ago, more than 1,080 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza, according to figures released by the two sides.Mr Burnham's announcement was welcomed by MPs on the far Left of the party, including those in the Socialist Campaign Group that supported ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn.Former shadow minister and ex-leadership contender Clive Lewis said the Gaza announcement was 'an important and much-needed first step' and called for it to be followed by a full arms embargo and ban on trade with illegal West Bank settlements. 'For too long this Labour government has fallen short of its obligations under international law – and of basic morality. Former shadow minister and ex-leadership contender Clive Lewis said the Gaza announcement was 'an important and much-needed first step' Culture Secretary Ms Nandy's comments leave open the prospect of Mr Burnham hiking taxes or increasing borrowing to provide the money needed to meet the UK's Nato commitments.'Zero tolerance of antisemitism, Islamophobia and all racism, and an unshakeable commitment to human rights and international law, should never have been difficult things for a Labour government to stand for. 'Now let's turn words into policy: settlement trade ban, full arms embargo.'The message was also retweeted by West Derby MP Ian Byrne, while Andy McDonald, a former shadow minister under Sir Keir, added: 'A majorly positive step in the right direction. Thanks Andy.' James Murray, the Health Secretary who will be out of a job within weeks unless kept on by Mr Burnham agreed that the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.Asked whether he agreed with the prime minister-in-waiting, the Health Secretary told Times Radio: 'I think that yes, by the time we called for a ceasefire, it was overdue.'Greg Smith, the parliamentary chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, said: 'The former Mayor of Manchester will understand very well the way in which anti-Israel invective fans the flame of anti-Semitism.'As Prime Minister his role should be to take a balanced and clear-sighted approach to our national interest. To make Israel a touchstone issue to please the Left of his party would be a misguided and dangerous starting point for the new Labour leader. 'Israel is a longstanding and reliable ally and the Government should avoid further performative measures that downgrade the relationship.'It came as Mr Burnham and his allies set out a vision of Britain moving even further to the Left under his premiership today, hours after he was effectively anointed Labour leader without a fight.The former Manchester mayor last night won the backing of 322 Labour MPs to replace Sir Keir Starmer, in practice meaning no challenger can now get enough support to oppose him.And this morning one of his closest allies in the Cabinet signalled he could put up taxes or increase public borrowing to fund an increase in defence spending.Lisa Nandy told the BBC there were 'other options available' to find a £15bn uplift in cash for the Armed Forces than taking money from elsewhere in government, as set out by Sir Keir last week in the Defence Investment Plan.She also said Labour would be 'faster and bolder' under Mr Burnham and 'will wear our hearts on our sleeve more', adding: 'People will see us taking the fight to any system that stands in the way of them living better lives.'In a speech announcing he would stand to be Labour leader last month Mr Burnham said he will lead a decade-long plan to transform Britain by transferring power out of Whitehall and giving regions the ability to control essential utilities, transport and housing.The prospective prime minister promised to set a 'new direction' for the UK, with an outpost of 10 Downing Street based in Manchester to drive his plans to rewire the British state.It would oversee the 'biggest council house building programme since the post war period'. In an attempt to reassure the markets that he would not hike borrowing and taxes to pay for his plans, Mr Burnham promised his measures would be based on 'the stability that comes from sound public finances' and 'the discipline of our current fiscal rules'. But Culture Secretary Ms Nandy's comments leave open the prospect of Mr Burnham hiking taxes or increasing borrowing to provide the money needed to meet the UK's Nato commitments.Last month Sir Keir announced a £15bn increase in defence spending, funded by cuts to other departments. But he left it to Mr Burnham to find almost a third of it after h takes power. Ms Nandy told BBC Radio 4's Today that 'there are choices in front of a new prime minister about how to fund' the increase in defence spending that is needed.'One of those choices, which is the choice that Keir Starmer made, was to find that money from existing spending,' she said.'There are other options available as well. I haven't discussed it in any detail with Andy Burnham, but I know he will want to look at that and make his own choices about… how he thinks the best way to fund that is.'What I'm absolutely convinced about, having known him well now for 17 years, is that whether we fund defence is not going to be a question. The question will be how.' Mr Burnham's team has also held talks with the MP making a new attempt to get a law legalising assisted suicide through Parliament after a previous effort was blocked. Labour MP Lauren Edwards told Sky News she did not expect the new government to move from its position of neutrality on the issue, despite Mr Burnham saying he would 'probably' vote in favour of it before his return to Westminster.In a video on social media, he apologised for Labour's previous stance on Gaza, saying his party 'didn't get it right' under Sir Keir Starmer and the UK had been 'too slow to call for a ceasefire'.