MI5 has produced guidance for MPs that “highlights that the UK is a target of strategic foreign interference and espionage from elements of the Russian,Chinese and Iranian states”.
About a quarter of UK MPs have accepted funding from Pro-Israel lobby groups, investigation finds
Declassified UK found that 180 out of 650 MPs in the last UK Parliament accepted funding or hospitality from pro-Israel lobby groups, individuals, or Israeli state institutions over the course of their political careers. Declassified UK
This includes 130 Conservative MPs, 41 Labour MPs, 3 Liberal Democrats, plus a few from smaller parties. Declassified UK
The total value of the donations, trips, hospitality etc. was over £1 million. Declassified UK
Trips to Israel (including some to the Occupied Palestinian Territories) were a key part of this, with pro-Israel lobby groups funding more than 240 “paid-for” trips at a cost of over half a million pounds. Declassified UK
Specific organizations involved include Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) and Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Also implicated are individual donors with pro-Israel associations, and some “fact finding” or “solidarity” missions. Declassified UK+2Declassified UK+2
Research showed that even beyond MPs, parliamentary staff (aides, assistants) have been taken on trips funded by pro-Israel lobby groups or the Israeli embassy. Declassified UK
Within the Conservative Party, over a third of its MPs have accepted funding of this sort; the value/cost of these contributions is relatively large in aggregate. Declassified UK
For Labour, roughly 20% of its sitting MPs have accepted money or hospitality from pro-Israel lobby groups or individuals. Declassified UK
“Accepting funding or hospitality” can mean different things: sometimes small amounts, sometimes travel, sometimes hospitality; the significance of these varies. Declassified UK+1
Timing matters: some of the funding or trips were taken many years ago; in some cases MPs haven’t received such funding recently. Declassified UK+1
The source of some lobby group funding is opaque. For example, CFI and LFI do not always disclose all donors. Declassified UK+1
Whether such funding influences MPs’ policy positions is a matter of debate and not proven in the reporting; correlation is shown (many MPs accepting funding), but causation is harder to establish.
The findings raise questions about transparency in political funding and potential conflicts of interest.
The nature and oversight of parliamentary “friendship” groups, and how lobby travel is declared, are under scrutiny.
There is public interest in how MPs’ foreign policy stances correlate with ties to lobby groups.
The Declassified UK investigation provides evidence that a considerable number of UK MPs have received funding, hospitality, or been involved in trips to Israel financed by pro-Israel lobby groups or state-associated bodies. The scale is non-trivial (both in number of MPs and in money/hospitality involved). The story highlights transparency, the role of lobbying, and the potential for influence as areas for further public and regulatory attention