Britain’s trade secretary, Peter Kyle, has been accused of an “egregious” breach of the Ministerial Code, by failing to declare his membership of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).
Seven other ministers – including Rachel Reeves and David Lammy – have each stated they are a “member” of the group in the List of Ministerial Interests.
But Kyle has never registered his association, despite being the minister responsible for arms exports to Israel.
LFI once described itself as a “lobby group” working to “promote the State of Israel” and does not declare who its funders are.
Speaking at an event earlier this month, Kyle admitted that despite resigning as the group’s vice chair when he first became a minister in 2024, he was still “a member of Labour Friends of Israel”.
Concerns have also been raised that membership of the group may, in itself, be at odds with the Ministerial Code which bans any association with organisations “whose objectives may in any degree conflict with government policy”.
LFI has frequently opposed government policy, including publicly saying that it “strongly disagree[s]” with Keir Starmer’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state last year.
In 2024, LFI also opposed the government’s policy over arms export licenses to Israel, saying that it was “deeply concerned” by the partial suspension.
Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker told Declassified: “It is completely wrong for ministers to belong to Labour Friends of Israel whose policies, especially their rejection of a Palestinian state, are in direct conflict with government policy. They should immediately resign from this group.
“It is particularly egregious in the case of Peter Kyle who is in charge of arms exports to Israel and unlike other ministers hasn’t even registered his membership of this group.”
Baker added: “Keir Starmer should deal with this matter directly and urgently. Failure to do so will only reinforce the view held by many that the British government is a patsy for the very unpleasant Israeli government.”
A Cabinet Office spokesperson refused to comment on any aspect of this story. He claimed their refusal was “on behalf of all of Gov[ernment],” including the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus.
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Arms exports
In 2024, the government suspended around 30 arms export licences to Israel due to the “clear risk” that they might be used to “commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law”.
At the time, LFI released a statement condemning the decision and claimed the suspension could lead to “greater escalation”.
“We do not believe that restrictions on UK arms sales will help bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to a close or help ensure the release of the hostages, six of whom Hamas brutally murdered just days ago,” the group said.
“Moreover, we are deeply concerned by the signal this sends to Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of state terrorism and Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine.”
Kyle – who now admits he is still a “member” of the group – became Trade Secretary in September and has pledged to restart trade relations with Israel “as soon as possible”.
Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle, Kyle said the government was in “regular dialogue” over the issue, adding: “It is good that President Trump is keeping pressure on progress towards a more sustainable peace, and all I can say is that I’m watching very closely.”
He continued: “I want these things to restart as quickly as possible, because that means that we get back on track with trade talks, but it also means we will reach the point where there is a sustainable peace that we believe we can play a part in, reinforcing with greater, deeper trade.”
Kyle was one of several senior Labour Party figures filmed attending the annual LFI reception near Westminster in December. But he avoided questions about his support for Israel, as Declassified was physically blocked by police from interviewing him.
Independent MP Shockat Adam told Declassified: “It is, of course, shocking that so many ministers are closely attached to the Israel lobby. But this is not just about politics or influence; ministers are legally obliged to uphold international law.
“It’s been over 18 months since the International Court of Justice issued a landmark Advisory Opinion confirming that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and calling on all states, including the UK, to avoid complicity and take steps to end it.
“Yet the UK government has failed to act: it continues arms sales, allows goods from illegal settlements, and takes no meaningful steps to prevent trade or investment that entrenches occupation.”
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Conflict of Interests
Responding to questions from Declassified, Labour Friends of Israel claimed: “LFI is not a membership organisation, and therefore no Labour parliamentarians are members.”
However, a large number of Labour MPs have described themselves as “members” – including in official declarations by cabinet ministers like David Lammy and Rachel Reeves.
Former LFI chair, Louise Ellman, has also referred to herself as a “member of LFI”. And the group even used to have a “Membership Form” available on its website, with details of an annual membership fee.
Founded in 1957, LFI once publicly described itself as a “Westminster based lobby group working within the British Labour Party to promote the State of Israel.”
Over the years, it has paid for dozens of MPs, peers and political advisors to fly out to Israel, but refuses to disclose where its money comes from – other than to deny that it is funded by the Israeli government.
Until 2024, dozens of Labour MPs were listed on its website as “parliamentary supporters”, although it is unclear exactly what the label meant in practice.
The list was deleted ahead of the last general election, when it was being used by pro-Gaza candidates to discredit incumbent Labour MPs. However an archived copy from February 2024 includes 63 MPs who retained their seats, including Keir Starmer.
LFI previously claimed the list was deleted because the organisation was “in the process of reforming our officers group”, but it has never been re-published.
Commenting on the declarations, the executive director of Shadow World Investigations, Andrew Feinstein, said: “That Ministers belong to an organisation that will not reveal its funders undermines public trust in whose interests they really serve.
“In addition, they are also likely in breach of the Ministerial Code as LFI’s objectives conflict with government policy. This raises serious concerns about whether the ministers’ primary commitment is to the people of Britain, or the criminal government of Israel.”
