Former Rutland MP under investigation by Tory party
It's after criticising his Tory colleagues for their support of Israel
Last updated 5th Apr 2024
Former Rutland MP Sir Alan Duncan is under investigation by the Conservative Party, after criticising his Tory colleagues for their support of Israel.
The former Foreign Office minister is being investigated after giving an interview in which he called for two Conservative peers and a minister to face repercussions for their support of Israel.
Duncan also called for the UK to stop exporting arms to Israel.
He was Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton from 1992 to 2019, before stepping down and being replaced by Alicia Kearns.
Speaking to LBC yesterday morning (Thursday 4th), he said the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) group had been "doing the bidding of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bypassing all proper processes of government to exercise undue influence at the top of government".
It is understands the party has told Sir Alan he is being investigated - although this could take weeks.
In the interview, he singled out Lord Stuart Polak, the honorary president of the CFI, and Lord Eric Pickles, as among those who should face punishment for their support of Israel.
Sir Alan also criticised former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, as well as Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, and ex-Home Office minister Robert Jenrick.
He also claimed security minister Tom Tugendhat should be "sacked" for his previous stance on Israel.
The Conservatives mentioned in Sir Alan's LBC interview have been interviews for their response.
In response to news of the investigation, Sir Alan said: "Although I have heard nothing myself, I have been told by many in the media that the Conservative Party has issued a statement to say that I am to be investigated by them with a view to expulsion.
"They did not lay out any substantive grounds for their action.
"If this is indeed their intention, I will probably be the only person ever to be reproached for upholding his party's policy and for defending the principles of international law and justice in the face of others who would undermine them.
"Should they choose to pursue this, they should not be surprised if it rebounds on them massively and proves dangerously harmful to their own reputation."