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Priti Patel on verge of sack after new revelations about meetings with Israelis

Ms Patel’s future is in danger after further revelations about undisclosed meetings she held with Israeli political figures while on holiday in August

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Priti Patel is on the verge of being sacked as International Development Secretary after being told to cut short her trip to Africa at the request of Theresa May.

Ms Patel’s future is in danger after further revelations about undisclosed meetings she held with Israeli political figures while on holiday in August.

It emerged last night that following her August meetings Ms Patel met Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan in Parliament on September 7.

She later met Israeli Foreign Ministry official Yuval Rotem in New York on September 18.

Ms Patel had been due to travel to Uganda on a ministerial trip but is now understood to be returning to London for further discussions with Downing Street.

Questions remain over what Number Ten knew about Ms Patel’s meetings, and when.

It is understood some weeks ago sources were reporting an announcement would be made about cooperation between Britain and Israel over aid in Africa.

The deal, the JC was told, had been signed off by the Department for International Development and Number Ten, without the Foreign Office knowing.

Tom Newton Dunn, political editor of the Sun, claimed this morning that “Priti Patel will not be fired until she sees the PM face to face much later today, I understand. Ordered home from Uganda early this morning”.

Robert Peston, ITV’s political editor, said the prime minister’s patience with Ms Patel was said to be "almost exhausted".

He tweeted: "If it turns out there is anything else about Israel trip she hasn’t revealed, she’s toast, I am told."


 

 

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