Israel lobbyist in House of Lords claims thousands of pounds in public funds

A leading lobbyist who described his appointment to the UK's House of Lords as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to advocate for Israel is claiming thousands of pounds in public funds for his parliamentary work.

Stuart Polak, who led the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) for 25 years, has claimed almost £250,000 ($323,015) since he was made a peer by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, according to an analysis of his expenses by Middle East Eye and Declassified UK.

Polak’s expenses as a member of the House of Lords are entirely legitimate. Members do not receive a salary but can claim a non-taxable daily attendance allowance of £361 (£342 before April 2024). They may also opt to claim a reduced allowance or none at all.

But Polak’s place in parliament, and his entitlement to draw on public money while continuing to advocate for Israel, has been called into question at a time when Israeli leaders face accusations of genocide and war crimes over their conduct in the war against Hamas in Gaza, in which more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed.

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