A TOP Foreign Office official met with a pro-Israel lobbyist, reportedly to discuss arms exports to Tel Aviv.
The meeting between British multi-millionaire Trevor Chinn and Christian Turner, the political director at the Foreign Office, took place in October last year.
Chinn made his money in the motor industry and has donated to Keir Starmer and David Lammy.
The purpose of the meeting, first reported by Declassified UK, was initially described by the Foreign Office as being “to discuss geopolitics with businessman”.
But disclosures to the investigative outlet under Freedom of Information laws showed that Chinn was given the chance to discuss Britain’s arms trade with Israel with the Government.
Emails showed that the conversation focused on “the 2 September IHL decision”, referring to Labour’s decision on that date to suspend some arms sales.
A significant carve out was given in the form of an exemption for parts of F-35 bomber planes, which have been instrumental in Israel’s devastation of Palestine.
Chinn offered “recommendations” on the issue of weapon sales, while the Foreign Office official asked whether other British diplomats might also try “reaching out” to him and “hearing” his views.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “It is the political director's job to engage with a range of voices across multiple issues to ensure informed policy making.
"We absolutely do not recognise any claim suggesting that we have prioritised engaging with those with certain interests and positions over others."
Declassified UK said that the Foreign Office refused to release any more details on the meeting, claiming it would harm “the effective conduct of our bilateral relationship with Israel” which “depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between governments”.
The National has contacted the Foreign Office for further comment.
Chinn failed to respond to comment when approached by Declassified.
He is a long-running funder of both Labour Friends of Israel and Conservative Friends of Israel and has also been involved with the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, a leading lobbying group.
In declassified files from the early 1990s, Chinn was described by one Foreign Office official as being “by no means a dove” in terms of his support for Israel.
“My own feeling is that he is not very subtly tuned into the Israeli political scene, although he meets a number of leaders through his fund-raising activities”, the diplomat continued.
