A debate on British government support for human rights in Burma was held in the British Parliament yesterday (10th June 2026).
During the debate, MPs from across political parties united in calling for stronger action by the British government, including new sanctions against the Burmese military, action on justice and accountability, and ensuring aid is not cut.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt MP, of the Conservative Party, secured the debate, and called for a return of British leadership on the international response to the crisis in Burma, stating:
“Britain does not have to stand on the sidelines, Britain must not stand on the sidelines, and I hope that when we hear from the Minister, he will tell us that Britain will not stand on the sidelines.”
Sir Jeremy Hunt called for more sanctions on the Burmese military, including on state-owned banks under the control of the Burmese military. He also called for action on Arakha Army human rights violations, British leadership at the United Nations, and more creative ways to refer the entire situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court.
Labour MP Luke Akehurst drew attention to the British government stopping imposing new sanctions, the increase of airstrikes by the Burmese military, and called for new sanctions, stating:
“Does he agree that we need a new round of sanctions, including potentially targeting the military-owned Mytel mobile phone network, as well as vessels and companies identified by Amnesty and Reuters as delivering jet fuel and materials for making explosives, some of it originating in Iran?”
Labour MP Afzal Khan also called for new sanctions, stating:
“The genocide against the Rohingya Muslims, which has been ongoing for almost a decade, is one of the most horrifying examples of Islamophobia. Does the right hon. Member agree that the UK should join the EU and the USA in imposing sanctions on the military-controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, which is a major source of revenue for the military?”
Democratic Unionist MP Jim Shannon highlighted the persecution of Christians, stating:
“Since the illegal military coup, the junta has executed a brutal, calculated campaign targeting predominantly Christian ethnic regions in Chin, Kayah and Kachin states as well as Sagaing and Yangon. Reports from Open Doors confirmed that historical Christian communities face unprecedented violence, with churches being bombed via indiscriminate military airstrikes. Villages have been razed to the ground and Christian pastors are being unlawfully detained, disappeared or killed.”
Rushanara Ali MP, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma, highlighted the lack of any new sanctions since 2024, and the key role the UK can play in mobilising international action, stating:
“Given the escalating human rights violations, the British Government should be doing everything they can to identify and sanction sources of revenue and arms and to encourage our allies to do the same.
“I call on the Minister to make sure that we work with our partners. We have not joined Canada in sanctioning the jet fuel sector, despite the humanitarian and economic impacts of airstrikes, let alone the lives lost. We have not joined the European Union and the United States of America in sanctioning Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise – the military-controlled body responsible for oil and gas extraction and a major source of revenue to the Myanmar military. We have not joined the United States of America in sanctioning international telecommunications company, Myanmar Mytel, which is not only a military joint-venture company that provides revenue to the military, but is also used to track and arrest human rights activists.
“There are a number of other sanctions that other countries have been party to that we have not. I call on the Minister to look at those areas and to work with our partners on that.”
Rushanara Ali also expressed gratitude for the work of Burma Campaign UK.
Labour MP Catherine West asked about UK aid to Burma, and called for greater British government focus on the crisis in Burma, stating:
“Does my hon. Friend agree that, relative to the other crises in the world, in Sudan, Gaza and other places, the long-running and tragic dispute between the regime and the many people who live in Myanmar/Burma deserves much more attention – not just in this House, which is what we are providing as Back Benchers, but from the Government?”
British Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer MP responded to the questions from MPs, but failed to make any new commitment to act. In describing the British government response to the crisis in Burma, he was largely forced to highlight action taken by the British Foreign Office years ago, as very little proactive action has been taken in the past two years.
The Minister, whose government is currently standing on the sidelines, and has been for sometime, said the government would not stand on the sidelines, while failing to announce any new action or approach to get off the sidelines. He concluded by saying:
“The human rights situation in Myanmar remains grave, but withdrawal or silence is not an option, and we will certainly not sit on the sidelines. Sustained pressure, co-ordinated engagement and targeted support can reduce harm, advance accountability and help lay the foundations for a future that respects the rights of all. The resilience and courage shown by communities across Myanmar, even in the face of extraordinary hardship, demands nothing less. We are committed to upholding international human rights standards and working with partners across the House to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for an inclusive and peaceful future.”
Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK, who attended the debate, commented:
“There was unanimous cross-party support for new sanctions and stronger action from the British government, and once again we saw nothing new from the British Foreign Office. Minister Hamish Falconer was forced to respond by listing ‘golden oldies’ of the things the Foreign Office did in the past, talking from the sidelines about not being on the sidelines. Given the cross-party support for stronger action, including new sanctions, the lethargy from the Foreign Office as airstrikes and the death toll increases is inexplicable.”
The transcript of the debate is available here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-06-10/debates/78D678C5-3F71-412B-81E4-5927E2D09E3E/MyanmarHumanRights
It can be viewed here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/68fd6916-2b62-4835-b30b-ea5a38e95703?in=16:00:09