Simon Templer

“If I was a Scot, I would probably vote for #ScottishIndependence🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. England has gone too far in the direction of Thatcherism” Economist Yanis Varoufakis #voteSNP

A list of the 34 former lobbyists who are now Labour MPs. The Labour MPs that have been acting as lobbyists in the big lobbying houses like Arden, or directly for corporations. Is your MP among them? labourrightwatch.wordpress.com/2025/04/16/a-l…

You’d think that over the last couple of years there might have been one or two Labour MPs resigning from the lobby organisation Labour Friends of Israel. As Israel’s war crimes have piled up in Gaza, with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, as the atrocities, ethnic cleansing and land grabs have spread to Lebanon, the illegal invasion of Iran, as Netanyahu’s regime shows its utter contempt for international law and opinion across the world, and as Israel voted recently to enact the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, you would have thought that there’d have been at least one MP, just one, who said to themselves, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on supporting this, it’s gone beyond the pale.” But not one member/supporter has resigned. They have continued to remain silent and carry on at Westminster as if the atrocities in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iran are not happening at all. It’s as if they’ve barricaded themselves into a protective cocoon at Westminster that’s immune to the outside world. The only MP known to have resigned from Labour Friends of Israel is Dr. Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton). She resigned in 2019 voicing her discomfort with the organisation’s positions on several issues, particularly its reluctance to oppose illegal settler occupation and constructions in the Palestinian lands. Shortly after she resigned from Labour Friends of Israel, Margaret Hodge’s @JewishLabour Movement accused Rupa Huq of antisemitism - specifically ‘anti-Semitic bullying and harassment’. The charges were dismissed by a panel citing lack of evidence and described by a spokesperson for Rupa Huq as ‘entirely false and malicious.’ Margaret Hodge is also the leading light and figurehead in the Labour Friends of Israel organisation. Why do so many Labour MPs remain staunch members and supporters of Labour Friends of Israel? Independent research has argued that MPs with “ties to Labour Friends of Israel and pro-Israel donors ‘have received significant patronage and promotions.’” Many in the highest posts of the Labour government are Labour Friends of Israel members including Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Jon Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones, Christian Wakeford, Preet Gill, Dan Jarvis, Emily Thornberry, Peter Kyle, Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Hilary Benn, Alex Norris, Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Kim Leadbeater, David Lammy, Maria Eagle, Josh Simons, Chris Bryant, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Ellie Reeves, Lucy Powell, Angela Eagle, Mike Tapp, Anna Turley, Michael Shanks, Joani Reid and Keir Starmer himself. In September 2025, Starmer appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Jon Pearce, as his Parliamentary Private Secretary. The influence that Labour Friends of Israel exerts over The Labour Party and the UK government is undeniable. Whether that influence is in the best interests of democracy and public representation in Parliament is surely open to question. @DavidLammy @kimleadbeater @MatherKeir @Siobhain_Mc @AlexJJNorris @PFOKane @abenaopp @TaiwoOwatemi @tobyperkinsmp @jessphillips @bphillipsonMP @LucyMPowell @BBCNews @Channel4News @AJEnglish #TheLobby #LabourDoorstep @Ofcom

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has ruled out both a future seat in the House of Lords and any return to his former career in dentistry. Asked by @heraldscotland if he would ever take up a seat in the House of Lords, Mr Sarwar said: “No. heraldscotland.com/news/26078895.…

You’d think that over the last couple of years there might have been one or two Labour MPs resigning from the lobby organisation Labour Friends of Israel. As Israel’s war crimes have piled up in Gaza, with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, as the atrocities, ethnic cleansing and land grabs have spread to Lebanon, the illegal invasion of Iran, as Netanyahu’s regime shows its utter contempt for international law and opinion across the world, and as Israel voted recently to enact the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, you would have thought that there’d have been at least one MP, just one, who said to themselves, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on supporting this, it’s gone beyond the pale.” But not one member/supporter has resigned. They have continued to remain silent and carry on at Westminster as if the atrocities in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iran are not happening at all. It’s as if they’ve barricaded themselves into a protective cocoon at Westminster that’s immune to the outside world. The only MP known to have resigned from Labour Friends of Israel is Dr. Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton). She resigned in 2019 voicing her discomfort with the organisation’s positions on several issues, particularly its reluctance to oppose illegal settler occupation and constructions in the Palestinian lands. Shortly after she resigned from Labour Friends of Israel, Margaret Hodge’s @JewishLabour Movement accused Rupa Huq of antisemitism - specifically ‘anti-Semitic bullying and harassment’. The charges were dismissed by a panel citing lack of evidence and described by a spokesperson for Rupa Huq as ‘entirely false and malicious.’ Margaret Hodge is also the leading light and figurehead in the Labour Friends of Israel organisation. Why do so many Labour MPs remain staunch members and supporters of Labour Friends of Israel? Independent research has argued that MPs with “ties to Labour Friends of Israel and pro-Israel donors ‘have received significant patronage and promotions.’” Many in the highest posts of the Labour government are Labour Friends of Israel members including Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Jon Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones, Christian Wakeford, Preet Gill, Dan Jarvis, Emily Thornberry, Peter Kyle, Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Hilary Benn, Alex Norris, Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Kim Leadbeater, David Lammy, Maria Eagle, Josh Simons, Chris Bryant, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Ellie Reeves, Lucy Powell, Angela Eagle, Mike Tapp, Anna Turley, Michael Shanks, Joani Reid and Keir Starmer himself. In September 2025, Starmer appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Jon Pearce, as his Parliamentary Private Secretary. The influence that Labour Friends of Israel exerts over The Labour Party and the UK government is undeniable. Whether that influence is in the best interests of democracy and public representation in Parliament is surely open to question. @DavidLammy @kimleadbeater @MatherKeir @Siobhain_Mc @AlexJJNorris @PFOKane @abenaopp @TaiwoOwatemi @tobyperkinsmp @jessphillips @bphillipsonMP @LucyMPowell @BBCNews @Channel4News @AJEnglish #TheLobby #LabourDoorstep @Ofcom

You’d think that over the last couple of years there might have been one or two Labour MPs resigning from the lobby organisation Labour Friends of Israel. As Israel’s war crimes have piled up in Gaza, with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, as the atrocities, ethnic cleansing and land grabs have spread to Lebanon, the illegal invasion of Iran, as Netanyahu’s regime shows its utter contempt for international law and opinion across the world, and as Israel voted recently to enact the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, you would have thought that there’d have been at least one MP, just one, who said to themselves, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on supporting this, it’s gone beyond the pale.” But not one member/supporter has resigned. They have continued to remain silent and carry on at Westminster as if the atrocities in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iran are not happening at all. It’s as if they’ve barricaded themselves into a protective cocoon at Westminster that’s immune to the outside world. The only MP known to have resigned from Labour Friends of Israel is Dr. Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton). She resigned in 2019 voicing her discomfort with the organisation’s positions on several issues, particularly its reluctance to oppose illegal settler occupation and constructions in the Palestinian lands. Shortly after she resigned from Labour Friends of Israel, Margaret Hodge’s @JewishLabour Movement accused Rupa Huq of antisemitism - specifically ‘anti-Semitic bullying and harassment’. The charges were dismissed by a panel citing lack of evidence and described by a spokesperson for Rupa Huq as ‘entirely false and malicious.’ Margaret Hodge is also the leading light and figurehead in the Labour Friends of Israel organisation. Why do so many Labour MPs remain staunch members and supporters of Labour Friends of Israel? Independent research has argued that MPs with “ties to Labour Friends of Israel and pro-Israel donors ‘have received significant patronage and promotions.’” Many in the highest posts of the Labour government are Labour Friends of Israel members including Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Jon Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones, Christian Wakeford, Preet Gill, Dan Jarvis, Emily Thornberry, Peter Kyle, Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Hilary Benn, Alex Norris, Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Kim Leadbeater, David Lammy, Maria Eagle, Josh Simons, Chris Bryant, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Ellie Reeves, Lucy Powell, Angela Eagle, Mike Tapp, Anna Turley, Michael Shanks, Joani Reid and Keir Starmer himself. In September 2025, Starmer appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Jon Pearce, as his Parliamentary Private Secretary. The influence that Labour Friends of Israel exerts over The Labour Party and the UK government is undeniable. Whether that influence is in the best interests of democracy and public representation in Parliament is surely open to question. @DavidLammy @kimleadbeater @MatherKeir @Siobhain_Mc @AlexJJNorris @PFOKane @abenaopp @TaiwoOwatemi @tobyperkinsmp @jessphillips @bphillipsonMP @LucyMPowell @BBCNews @Channel4News @AJEnglish #TheLobby #LabourDoorstep @Ofcom

You’d think that over the last couple of years there might have been one or two Labour MPs resigning from the lobby organisation Labour Friends of Israel. As Israel’s war crimes have piled up in Gaza, with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, as the atrocities, ethnic cleansing and land grabs have spread to Lebanon, the illegal invasion of Iran, as Netanyahu’s regime shows its utter contempt for international law and opinion across the world, and as Israel voted recently to enact the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, you would have thought that there’d have been at least one MP, just one, who said to themselves, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on supporting this, it’s gone beyond the pale.” But not one member/supporter has resigned. They have continued to remain silent and carry on at Westminster as if the atrocities in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iran are not happening at all. It’s as if they’ve barricaded themselves into a protective cocoon at Westminster that’s immune to the outside world. The only MP known to have resigned from Labour Friends of Israel is Dr. Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton). She resigned in 2019 voicing her discomfort with the organisation’s positions on several issues, particularly its reluctance to oppose illegal settler occupation and constructions in the Palestinian lands. Shortly after she resigned from Labour Friends of Israel, Margaret Hodge’s @JewishLabour Movement accused Rupa Huq of antisemitism - specifically ‘anti-Semitic bullying and harassment’. The charges were dismissed by a panel citing lack of evidence and described by a spokesperson for Rupa Huq as ‘entirely false and malicious.’ Margaret Hodge is also the leading light and figurehead in the Labour Friends of Israel organisation. Why do so many Labour MPs remain staunch members and supporters of Labour Friends of Israel? Independent research has argued that MPs with “ties to Labour Friends of Israel and pro-Israel donors ‘have received significant patronage and promotions.’” Many in the highest posts of the Labour government are Labour Friends of Israel members including Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Jon Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones, Christian Wakeford, Preet Gill, Dan Jarvis, Emily Thornberry, Peter Kyle, Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Hilary Benn, Alex Norris, Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Kim Leadbeater, David Lammy, Maria Eagle, Josh Simons, Chris Bryant, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Ellie Reeves, Lucy Powell, Angela Eagle, Mike Tapp, Anna Turley, Michael Shanks, Joani Reid and Keir Starmer himself. In September 2025, Starmer appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Jon Pearce, as his Parliamentary Private Secretary. The influence that Labour Friends of Israel exerts over The Labour Party and the UK government is undeniable. Whether that influence is in the best interests of democracy and public representation in Parliament is surely open to question. @DavidLammy @kimleadbeater @MatherKeir @Siobhain_Mc @AlexJJNorris @PFOKane @abenaopp @TaiwoOwatemi @tobyperkinsmp @jessphillips @bphillipsonMP @LucyMPowell @BBCNews @Channel4News @AJEnglish #TheLobby #LabourDoorstep @Ofcom

You’d think that over the last couple of years there might have been one or two Labour MPs resigning from the lobby organisation Labour Friends of Israel. As Israel’s war crimes have piled up in Gaza, with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, as the atrocities, ethnic cleansing and land grabs have spread to Lebanon, the illegal invasion of Iran, as Netanyahu’s regime shows its utter contempt for international law and opinion across the world, and as Israel voted recently to enact the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, you would have thought that there’d have been at least one MP, just one, who said to themselves, “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on supporting this, it’s gone beyond the pale.” But not one member/supporter has resigned. They have continued to remain silent and carry on at Westminster as if the atrocities in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iran are not happening at all. It’s as if they’ve barricaded themselves into a protective cocoon at Westminster that’s immune to the outside world. The only MP known to have resigned from Labour Friends of Israel is Dr. Rupa Huq (MP for Ealing Central and Acton). She resigned in 2019 voicing her discomfort with the organisation’s positions on several issues, particularly its reluctance to oppose illegal settler occupation and constructions in the Palestinian lands. Shortly after she resigned from Labour Friends of Israel, Margaret Hodge’s @JewishLabour Movement accused Rupa Huq of antisemitism - specifically ‘anti-Semitic bullying and harassment’. The charges were dismissed by a panel citing lack of evidence and described by a spokesperson for Rupa Huq as ‘entirely false and malicious.’ Margaret Hodge is also the leading light and figurehead in the Labour Friends of Israel organisation. Why do so many Labour MPs remain staunch members and supporters of Labour Friends of Israel? Independent research has argued that MPs with “ties to Labour Friends of Israel and pro-Israel donors ‘have received significant patronage and promotions.’” Many in the highest posts of the Labour government are Labour Friends of Israel members including Yvette Cooper, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Jon Reynolds, Alex Davies-Jones, Christian Wakeford, Preet Gill, Dan Jarvis, Emily Thornberry, Peter Kyle, Sharon Hodgson, Pat McFadden, Hilary Benn, Alex Norris, Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Liz Kendall, Darren Jones, Kim Leadbeater, David Lammy, Maria Eagle, Josh Simons, Chris Bryant, Steve Reed, Rachel Reeves, Ellie Reeves, Lucy Powell, Angela Eagle, Mike Tapp, Anna Turley, Michael Shanks, Joani Reid and Keir Starmer himself. In September 2025, Starmer appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Jon Pearce, as his Parliamentary Private Secretary. The influence that Labour Friends of Israel exerts over The Labour Party and the UK government is undeniable. Whether that influence is in the best interests of democracy and public representation in Parliament is surely open to question. @DavidLammy @kimleadbeater @MatherKeir @Siobhain_Mc @AlexJJNorris @PFOKane @abenaopp @TaiwoOwatemi @tobyperkinsmp @jessphillips @bphillipsonMP @LucyMPowell @BBCNews @Channel4News @AJEnglish #TheLobby #LabourDoorstep @Ofcom