UK Parliament to debate call for inquiry into alleged Israeli influence on politics

The UK Parliament is set to debate next month whether to launch an inquiry into alleged Israeli influence on British politics, following a petition that has gathered more than 116,000 signatures.

The debate, scheduled for 22 June and to be broadcast on the UK Parliament’s YouTube channel, comes after the Labour government said it does not support holding a public inquiry. Ministers argue that existing transparency rules on lobbying already provide sufficient oversight.

The petition calls for an investigation into “reported Israeli state-linked and pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics,” stating that it is necessary to assess the scope and impact of such influence campaigns. It also links the issue to the war in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank, and the UK government’s political response, arguing these developments highlight the need for greater scrutiny of how lobbying efforts may shape government policy and public debate.

In its official response on 17 April, the government said: “There is an existing framework for transparency around lobbying of the UK government and Parliament.”

Petition organiser Andy Kalil criticised the government’s stance, telling The National that the response was “a whole load of hot air and deflection.” He also alleged there was an “extreme conflict of interest” between donations from pro-Israel sources and government positions on Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, and southern Lebanon.

According to figures compiled by Declassified UK, current and former Labour cabinet members have received more than £300,000 in donations from pro-Israel individuals and groups since 2013. Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly received a £50,000 donation from Israeli-British businessman Trevor Chinn during his 2020 Labour leadership campaign.

The petition also references the ongoing war in Gaza, stating that more than 73,000 people have been killed, according to conservative estimates. It further claims that the UK government has supported Israel militarily, including through surveillance flights over Gaza.

In 2023, Starmer said Israel had the right to deny water, food, and electricity to civilians in Gaza, comments that have since been widely debated.