Kemi Badenoch faces backlash for supporting Israel’s decision to bar two UK Labour MPs
Kemi Badenoch has ignited a political firestorm after endorsing Israel’s decision to deny entry to two British Labour MPs, drawing rare condemnation from across the political divide and from within her own Conservative Party.
Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang had flown to Israel on Saturday intending to visit the occupied West Bank to “witness, first-hand, the situation.” But upon arrival, they were stopped by Israeli immigration officials and barred from entering the country, along with two aides. The Interior Ministry later accused the group of attempting to “document the security forces.”
Badenoch, the Conservative leader, defended the decision in an interview with the BBC, stating that “countries should be able to control their borders” and that it was “very significant” that certain Labour MPs were deemed unwelcome abroad.
Her remarks triggered outrage. Foreign Secretary David Lammy blasted them as “disgraceful,” accusing Badenoch of “cheerleading” a foreign government for detaining British parliamentarians. “Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China?” he posted on X. “This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey echoed the criticism, branding Badenoch’s position “unbelievably poor judgement” and “yet another complete shocker.”
Even some Conservatives broke ranks. Senior Tory MP Richard Fuller said parliamentarians on official visits should be “welcomed in any country,” and expressed alarm over the precedent being set. “We should all be very worried,” he warned in an interview with Times Radio.
Fuller later elaborated on LBC: “I want to support my colleagues. This isn’t a partisan thing. As a parliamentarian, we live in a difficult world. Democracies are under threat… Parliamentarians should be allowed free passage to our allies. We should look at this in a poor light.”
Badenoch, however, stood firm. Responding to Lammy’s post on X, she wrote: “Unlike China, Israel is our ally and a democracy. A good Foreign Sec would be able to make that distinction.”
She went further, accusing Labour MPs of failing to represent British interests, suggesting some were “campaigning for airports in Kashmir or promoting Hamas propaganda in Parliament.”
The comments sparked further backlash from Labour’s Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who said she was “completely gobsmacked.” Speaking to Sky News, she declared: “You have to stand up for what’s right, Kemi Badenoch. Stand in solidarity with other parliamentarians.”
The incident has also reignited concerns about the freedom of MPs to conduct diplomatic or fact-finding missions. Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, and Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, expressed astonishment over the refusal. “We were astounded,” they said in a joint statement, “simply for attempting to understand the realities on the ground.”
Though Badenoch framed the decision as a matter of sovereign border control and legal compliance, critics say it sets a troubling precedent for democratic exchange and transparency. “Democracy isn’t guaranteed,” Fuller said. “Freedom isn’t guaranteed. This is about supporting parliamentarians to be better informed and to speak out.”
The Israeli Interior Ministry has not released further details about the reasons for the exclusion, beyond alleging the MPs intended to monitor security forces. However, the move comes amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in the West Bank, and follows recent travel bans imposed on foreign officials critical of its policies.
The diplomatic row adds to Badenoch’s controversial record as Tory leader, particularly on international issues. Her sharp rhetoric and combative tone have long won praise from some within her base—but as this week’s reaction shows, they are increasingly drawing ire from across Westminster.
