UK minister resigns over secret Israel trip

dimeji akinloye

November 8, 2017 11:42 PM

Prime Minister Theresa May summoned the Secretary of State for International Development back from Kenya after she breached diplomatic protocol.

UK government minister

Patel tendered her resignation on Wednesday, November 8, 2017, CNN reports.

Prime Minister Theresa May summoned the Secretary of State for International Development back from Kenya after it was revealed that she met senior Israeli officials during a family holiday in the summer, a significant breach of diplomatic protocol.

During the visit, Patel, who paid for the trip herself, met with a dozen politicians and organizations, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yuval Rotem, a senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official.

Patel was also said to have met with Yair Lapid, the head of Yesh Latid, one of Netanyahu's coalition partners, who tweeted about their meeting.

In her resignation letter, she offered a "fulsome apology".

Patel's departure will throw May's Conservative government into further chaos following the sudden resignation last week of Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, who stood down after becoming embroiled in a mounting Westminster sexual harassment scandal.

dimeji akinloye