UK should suspend arms sales to Israel: Former Tory minister

Former Conservative cabinet minister David Jones told Middle East Eye that support for Israel in the UK’s governing party is due to the success of its pro-Israel lobby group.

Jones also said Britain should suspend arms sales to Israel and broke ranks with Tory leadership by labelling Israel’s actions in Gaza “disproportionate”. He added that he believes a Labour government would not have handled the war any differently than the Conservatives.

A senior Tory who served as secretary of state for Wales between 2012 and 2014 and deputy chairman of the European Research Group since 2020, Jones remained the Conservative MP for Clwyd West in Wales until 30 May, when Parliament was dissolved for the general election.

He is standing down as MP and won't be contesting his seat during the 4 July vote.

In a wide-ranging and candid interview with Middle East Eye, Jones set out his thoughts on the UK’s response to Israel’s war on Gaza, much of which contradicts the positions of the Tory leadership. 

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