Ex-army chief suspended for lobbying ministers over Israel arms firm

General Lord Sir Richard Dannatt (really his title) has just been suspended from the House of Lords for four months. Nothing says ‘functioning democracy’ like a former head of the army and unelected peer lobbying ministers to crack down on anti-genocide activists. The only thing that stands out is that the ex-general in questions has got a mild slap on the wrist.

Dannatt was called before the ‘conduct committee’ on two counts. All in all, these two counts contained 4 alleged breaches of the conduct code. One count involved Dannatt telling an undercover Guardian journalist he could set up ministerial contacts.  But another concerned Palestine Action (PA). It was alleged that in 2023, Dannatt contacted then home secretary Suella Braverman to urge a crackdown. In 2024, he tried the same with Labour security minister Dan Jarvis.

Why, you may ask?

Well because Dannatt, like so many ex-generals, has become an arms firm lobbyist. He was acting as a paid advisor on behalf of Teledyne UK, a genocide-linked arms firm.  He’ll be out of the Lords for four months – unable to pick up his cushty £300 quid a day for sitting around in a fancy robe.

Patriotism or self interest via Israeli arms firms?

Patriotism, as they say, is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Naturally, Dannatt maintained he was acting in the national interest:

I also understand that acting in the national interest in good faith, which was my motivation in the three matters, is not an excuse or justification for breaching the Code of Conduct.

It’s hard to know what part Dannatt played in the overall repression of PA, if any. But repression certainly did come about. The British state has been cracking down in earnest – in clear defence of Israel’s right to commit genocide against Palestinians.

Six members of the now-proscribed direct action group are currently awaiting trial. Thousands more are also waiting for a trial. Our own Hannah Sharland recently mapped the scale and intensity of the state assault on anti-genocide campaigners here.

For some, patriotism manifests itself in a paycheck. In this case, for defending and advancing the interests of genocide-linked death firms. For others, there is a bigger picture – thank God. And in that picture not even the threat of years in jail is enough to abandon the fight for Palestinian life and dignity.

As ever, it’s unelected peers swanning about the country with a moral impunity nobody else would be allowed to get away with.

Featured image via YouTube screenshot/Historic Royal Palaces