Priti Patel: Number 10 'knew about secret Israeli meeting and told her not to declare' - UK Minister recalled fro Israel visit - Independent

Priti Patel: Number 10 'knew about secret Israeli meeting and told her not to declare'

Joe Watts Political Editor

Downing Street knew about a meeting Priti Patel had with an Israeli minister, but instructed her not to publicise it because it could embarrass Boris Johnson’s Foreign Office, it has been claimed.

Reports on Wednesday said Number 10 knew about the meeting between underfire minister Ms Patel and Yuval Rotem, but held the information down.

The meeting on September 18 did not appear on a list of 12 published by Ms Patel this week after she was censured by Theresa May for arranging them without her knowledge.

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It was thought the emergence of the Rotem meeting in New York would give Ms May further reason to sack Ms Patel, who is expected to lose her job today.

But if the Prime Minister already knew, it raises questions as to whether Ms May is keeping Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson in the loop as to the foreign activity of all her other ministers.

One ex-Conservative minister told The Independent: “This is an absolute mess.

“There is already a turf war going on between Boris and Priti. The idea that Downing Street knew about her stepping on his toes and didn’t tell him is hugely embarrassing for him.”

The Jewish Chronicle reported on Tuesday that two different sources had told them, Ms Patel did disclose the meeting with Mr Rotem to Downing Street but was told by Number 10 not to include it as it would embarrass the Foreign Office.

In addition, the newspaper reported that although Ms Patel’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not authorised in advance, the British Government was made aware of it within hours.

On August 24, the same day Ms Patel spoke to Mr Netanyahu, Middle East minister Alistair Burt and the British Ambassador to Israel met Michael Oren, Deputy Minister at the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the JC reported.

According to the notes of the meeting, Mr Oren referred to Ms Patel having had a successful meeting with Mr Netanyahu earlier. It is understood that this information was then conveyed to Number 10.

The JC, went on to report that Ms May spoke to Ms Patel in advance of the UN General Assembly in September and they discussed the minister’s meeting with Mr Netanyahu, as well as the details of Ms Patel’s plan for UK aid to be shared with the Israelis, something which Ms May said needed Foreign Office sign off.

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