Meetings and revelations that left May with no choice
August 13 to 25
International development secretary Priti Patel travels to Israel with her husband and son on a ‘family holiday’. She holds 12 meetings with Israeli politicians, diplomats and interest groups, including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without any UK Government officials present. The meetings were arranged by Tory peer Lord Polak, honorary president of Conservative Friends of Israel, who accompanies her to all but one of them.
August 24
The Foreign Office becomes aware of Miss Patel’s presence in Israel after opposition leader Yair Lapid tweets a picture.
September 7
Miss Patel meets Israeli minister for public security Gilad Erdan in the House of Commons, again without telling the FO.
September 18
Miss Patel meets Israel’s most senior diplomat, Yuval Rotem, in New York.
November 2
Theresa May holds talks with Mr Netanyahu in Downing Street, but the PM is still unaware of Miss Patel’s visit.
November 3
BBC diplomatic editor James Landale breaks the story that Miss Patel held sev- eral undisclosed meetings, and quotes anonymous ministers accusing her of trying to win favour with wealthy pro-Israeli Conservative donors who could fund a future leadership campaign. Labour calls for an investigation into whether she breached the ministerial code. No 10 calls it a ‘private holiday’ and says no probe is taking place. Miss Patel brushes off the reports, telling the Guardian that the Foreign Office and Boris Johnson ‘knew about the visit’.
Monday
Miss Patel is hauled into No 10 and given a slap on the wrist by the PM. She is forced to ‘clarify’ her suggestions that Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson knew about the visit in
advance, and that the only meetings she held were in the public domain, neither of which was true.
Tuesday
Pressure grows on Miss Patel as she flies to Kenya on a pre-arranged visit.
Yesterday
Miss Patel is ordered to get on the next flight home for a showdown with the PM, after more revelations overnight. Miss Patel did not inform the PM about the September 7 meeting with Mr Erdan despite demands for full disclosure. This lack of openness seals her fate and she is forced to quit.