Welcome to The Independent’s live blog as the International Development Secretary Priti Patel flies back to the UK amid reports of her imminent sacking from the Cabinet over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials.
The International Development Secretary has been forced to cut short a trip to Africa to rush back for a second confrontation with a furious Prime Minister in Downing Street.
Her sudden return comes after her department admitted Ms Patel held two further meetings in September – which she failed to disclose when rebuked by Ms May on Monday. One was with an official from Israeli foreign ministry and the other – held on the House of Commons terrace – with the minister for public security.
It is believed no UK government officials were present, but Ms Patel was accompanied by the president of the powerful Conservative Friends of Israel lobby group. Fresh evidence also emerged to suggest the Cabinet minister deliberately avoided facing questions in the Commons on Tuesday, by bringing forward her flight to Kenya.
No 10 declined to comment on the latest revelations, but - given Ms Patel will not be back in Britain until the end of the day – there was speculation she could be dismissed on the flight.
Ms Patel’s position was already crumbling after it emerged she failed to tell Ms May about her plan to funnel UK foreign aid cash to the Israeli army.
