• Sir Alan Duncan could be sacked, merely for showcasing anti-Israeli sentiments.
• He labelled many of his party members as extremists for failing to condemn illegal Israeli settlements.
Former foreign secretary Sir Alan Duncan is under investigation by Tory officials following his remarks stating that pro-Israel “extremists” within the party should be expelled for their lack of support for international law. Sir Alan singled out former cabinet minister Eric Pickles and Tory peer Stuart Polak, both affiliated with the influential Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) organization, for potential expulsion from the party.
He stated that the CFI was leveraging its influence to advocate for Israel’s interests, thereby acting on behalf of another nation. Additionally, he labeled Michael Gove, Oliver Dowden, Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, and Priti Patel as “extremists” for their failure to condemn illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
The Conservative headquarters responded by initiating an investigation into Sir Alan’s remarks, which could result in him losing party support. This development coincides with a growing division within the party regarding the Gaza conflict. Notable figures such as Sir Nicholas Soames, grandson of Winston Churchill, former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, and Mark Logan, a PPS in the Department for Work and Pensions, are among those advocating for a halt to UK arms sales to Israel. Sir Alan, who retired as an MP in 2017, launched a scathing critique of Israel in an article for The Independent, arguing that it no longer deserves to be considered an ally by the UK.
He further utilized an appearance on LBC to demand the dismissal of security minister Tom Tugendhat for “not believing in international law.
Sir Alan, who held a ministerial position within the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2019, referenced Mr. Tugendhat’s previous criticism of the United Nations Security Council for its condemnation of Israel’s settlements policy. “Now, that may have been some years ago, but he’s never removed that, he’s never changed his view,” Sir Alan added. “How can you have a security minister in the British government, who does not believe in international law, when all this is going on? I think he [Tom Tugendhat] should be sacked.”
During the remarkable radio interview, Sir Alan also remarked that Lord Polak is “exercising the interests of another country, not that of the parliament in which he sits”. He also remarked that the peer and Lord Pickles are “the sort of Laurel and Hardy who should be pushed out together”.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews stated that Sir Alan had essentially “accused two Conservative peers, one of whom is Jewish, of dual loyalties”. It said, “This is disgraceful; we understand the Conservatives have opened an investigation into Sir Alan’s conduct, and we believe the party should consider whether his position as a party member is tenable.”
It asserted: “This is disgraceful; we understand the Conservatives have opened an investigation into Sir Alan’s conduct, and we believe the party should consider whether his position as a party member is tenable.”
Conservative Friends of Israel vice-chairman, Tory MP Andrew Percy, said, “Alan Duncan is a ridiculous character and accusing a Jewish parliamentarian of working for Israel at a time of record levels of antisemitism not only puts that individual in danger but also risks fuelling Jew hate here in the UK. It is a reckless, ignorant and dangerous comment.” He urged Sir Alan to remember Hamas “raped, butchered and murdered innocent civilians” on 7 October and said supporting Israel is “standing up to a terrorist rape and death cult”.
In a recent article in The Independent, commentator Peter Oborne remarked that the CFI wields excessive influence within the Conservative Party. A source from CCHQ stated: “Following his comments on LBC, Alan Duncan has been informed that he is under investigation by the party. These investigations generally take a couple of weeks and can result in expulsion.”However, Sir Alan defiantly stated that the decision to investigate him over accusations of using “antisemitic tropes” could potentially be “dangerously harmful” to the party’s reputation.
