The UK Conservative Party has begun an investigation into Sir Alan Duncan, a former Foreign Office minister, as a result of his statements on a national radio channel in which he claimed his colleagues are pro-Israel “extremists.” Duncan alleged during the radio interview that his colleagues who are “doing the bidding” of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, should be expelled from the party due to a failure to support international law.
Moreover, he accused two peers in the House of Lords of “exercising the interests of another” by advocating on behalf of Israel via the Conservative Friends of Israel group. He included a damning critique of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, calling her “disgusting, repulsive and repellant” for denying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the risk of famine. It was these remarks that prompted the investigation announced by the Conservative Party.
If the investigation uncovers wrongdoing, Duncan could face suspension or expulsion from the party. Yet, Duncan remains unapologetic, declaring he would “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.”
Duncan’s comments have been met with a mixture of condemnation and support. The Board of Deputies for British Jews released a statement describing Duncan’s accusations of dual loyalties as “disgraceful”, and they called for his position within the Conservative Party to be reconsidered. On the other hand, senior SNP MP and lawyer Joanna Cherry claimed the investigation into Duncan was a “disgrace”, stating that he was “telling the truth.”
These comments surface during a period of tension in British politics regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. This week, three British citizens delivering aid died in an Israeli strike on their vehicles, prompting questions about Britain’s sale of arms to Israel.