Group of MPs accept cash from Israeli weapons firm
As revealed by Declassified UK, RUK Advanced Systems Ltd paid at least £1499 to partner with the APPG, sending the money directly to the group's secretariat.
RUK Advanced Systems Ltd makes missiles for urban warfare, and is part of Israel's state-owned defence giant, Rafael.
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While it describes itself as a "UK company", Declassified reported that it is controlled by the Israeli government's ministry of finance, which is led by far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the UK Government last month for inciting "extremist violence" against Palestinians.
The company's director has also confirmed it is "owned by Rafael in Israel".
It is against parliamentary rules for APPGs to "accept the services of a secretariat funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government".
Of the 30 MPs involved in the APPG, five are from Scottish Labour.
They are:
Gordon McKee (Glasgow South) Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar) Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudon) Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan)
The other MPs on the group are Neil Shastri-Hurt (co-chair), Fred Thomas (co-chair), Sarah Bool (officer), Anna Gelderd (officer), Ben Obese-Jecty, Gagan Mohindra, Luke Akehurst, David Reed, Peter Lamb, John Slinger, Samantha Niblett, Michelle Scrogham, Gurinder Josan, Louise Jones, James Wild, George Freeman, Tan Dhesi, Martin Wrigley, Lauren Edwards, Dr Allison Gardner, Helen Maguire, Lewis Cocking, Bradley THomas, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Iain Duncan Smith.
There are also several peers who are part of the group: Lord Mountevans, Baroness Golding, Baroness Goudie, Lord Mott, Baroness Brown, Baroness Buscombe, Lord Lucas, Lord Hunt, Lord Cromwell, Lord Northbrook.
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The Defence Technology APPG runs a programme of events in Westminster to promote "engagement" between MPs and the arms industry.
It is funded by 31 corporate partners, including American defence firm Lockheed Martin, which is the main producer of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel.
Between them, the partners have paid more than £60,000 into the APPG to cover a 12 month period, gaining "visibility" and networking opportunities in return.
Tommy Sheppard (Image: PA) Speaking to Declassified, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard – who sat on Westminster's Standards Committee – said the donation from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd "seems a crystal clear breach of the rules".
'The APPG should immediately cease taking funds from a company controlled by a foreign government and repay any monies it has received in the past two years," he said.
"If it does not the group should be suspended and actions considered against office bearers.'
Neither the APPG nor any of the MPs involved in the group responded to Declassified's request for comment.
However, the outlet reported that RUK Advanced System Ltd's name was immediately removed from the group's website.
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