4 days ago
Lammy hit with legal threat over Israel links to Foreign Office jobs scheme
David Lammy has been threatened with legal action over claims that a Foreign Office job swap programme with BAE Systems could hand staff 'improper influence' over Britain's policy towards Israel.
In a pre-action letter to the Foreign Secretary, environmental charity The Corner House raised 'serious concerns' about potential conflicts of interest. It urged officials to explain whether BAE employees would be involved in shaping policy.
In particular, the charity demanded answers from the Government as to whether BAE staff would be involved in matters relating to ' potential or actual genocide in Palestine' and the 'licensing of arms exports'.
The legal threat emerged after Mr Lammy invited staff from BAE and Shell to swap jobs with diplomats in Whitehall to help 'champion their interests overseas'.
The Corner House, which has instructed lawyers at Leigh Day, called on the Foreign Office to 'confirm whether embedded BAE Systems staff will be involved directly or indirectly in advising, commenting, deciding on law and/or policy relating to trade and/or foreign affairs (including humanitarian affairs)'.
Without an adequate response, the charity said it was prepared to launch legal proceedings about the scheme's lawfulness.
Nicholas Hildyard, who founded The Corner House, said: 'This scheme cries out for judicial scrutiny.
'Seconding employees from powerful corporations to the Foreign Office or other ministries (and vice versa) is a recipe for potential serious conflicts of interest.'
BAE Systems is currently one of the biggest exporters of British arms to Israel through a US-run scheme that enables the sale of F-35 jet parts to the Israel Defence Forces.
A BAE spokesman said: 'We do not have operations or employees based in Israel or Gaza and we do not currently sell military equipment directly to the Government of Israel.'
The legal letter comes after the Foreign Office last September suspended 30 licences that had allowed British companies to sell arms to be used in Gaza.
This decision was made amid concerns the weapons could be used to 'commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law'.
