MPs Debate Israel Lobby Influence in UK Politics as Petition Passes 118,500 Signatures

MPs debated the influence of the Israel lobby on UK politics on July 22, after more than 118,500 people signed a petition calling for an inquiry. The source reports that the debate follows the government’s rejection of calls for such a probe.

The petition stated: “We are concerned about reported Israeli state-linked and pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics. We believe it is important to determine the scope and impact of any such influence campaigns.” It added that “the horrific devastation in Gaza, the ongoing suppression of Palestinians in the West Bank and the UK’s political response underline the urgent need to scrutinise how pro-Israel organisations, networks and lobbying efforts may shape government decisions, party policy and public debate.”

The first three Labour MPs to speak, Alex Davies-Jones, Gareth Snell and Peter Prinsley, all said there should not be an inquiry. Prinsley, who breached declaration of interests rules “inadvertently” over a Labour Friends of Israel-funded trip to Israel in 2025, called the petition a “regurgitation of antisemitic tropes.” Openness about declared trips is a matter of honest dealing, as this case shows (Proverbs 11:1).

Two Labour MPs, Kim Johnson and Tahir Ali, spoke in favour of an inquiry. Ayoub Khan, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said that for millions across the country, the government’s approach towards Israel had “defied the most basic logic of justice and humanity.” He pointed to “continued arm sales amid mass extermination, the weaponisation of terrorism laws, silencing dissent, the welcoming of wanted war criminals on the steps of 10 Downing Street,” and said it was “not only reasonable to ask questions about political influence in Britain, it’s necessary.” Khan also criticised “the transactional nature of donations,” adding: “Anyone who claims that these donors receive nothing in return is being naive.”

Iqbal Mohamed, independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley, raised the point that 13 of the then 25 members of the Labour cabinet received hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from pro-Israel donors.

Scottish Conservative MP John Lamont, who opened the debate, claimed the idea of the Israel lobby was “rooted in conspiracy theory” and said the country was being “uniquely singled out.” Mohamed highlighted that Israel did not receive a single mention in the Rycroft review into foreign interference, which was published in March.

Source: Read the original report