Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is facing widespread criticism from across the political spectrum after defending Israel’s decision to deny entry to two British Labour MPs, Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang. The MPs were barred from entering the country during a planned visit to the occupied West Bank intended to observe conditions on the ground.
Badenoch said Israel had the right to “control its borders,” and suggested it was “very significant” that some Labour MPs were not welcomed by other countries. She added that the Israeli authorities believed the MPs would not comply with local laws and stated, “There are many people we don’t allow into our country, and I don’t think we should be setting precedents in a different way.”
The Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel reportedly denied entry to the MPs and their aides after questioning at the airport, accusing them of traveling to “document the security forces.”
Badenoch’s remarks drew swift condemnation. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called her comments “disgraceful,” accusing her of “cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs.” Lammy questioned whether she would respond the same way if Conservative MPs were banned from China.
Badenoch defended her stance, stating on social media, “Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Sec would be able to make that distinction.” She further criticized Labour MPs for allegedly promoting “Hamas propaganda” and focusing on foreign causes over domestic priorities.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Badenoch had shown “unbelievably poor judgement,” while Labour’s Emily Thornberry said she was “completely gobsmacked,” arguing that British parliamentarians should stand in solidarity with colleagues seeking to gather information from conflict zones.
Senior Conservative MP Richard Fuller also distanced himself from Badenoch’s comments. He said MPs should be welcomed in other countries, especially when traveling on official business to gain insight and report back to Parliament. “Democracies are under threat,” he warned. “We should support them in those circumstances, whether China, Israel, or anywhere.”
The incident has sparked fresh debate in Westminster about the rights of elected MPs to travel freely, even to allied nations, and whether political support should ever override principles of democratic transparency and parliamentary independence.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
