Lobby Watch 15 June 2017
Michael Gove is the leading neoconservative in the reshuffled British cabinet. (Paul Clarke/Wikimedia Commons)
Rupert Murdoch’s influence over British politics is finally sagging. His best-selling paper The Sun – which in 1992 claimed to have won a general election for the Conservatives – tried its best to lampoon opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn ahead of last week’s general election. The efforts backfired: against the odds, Corbyn’s Labour Party dramatically increased its vote.
Murdoch has nonetheless been offered a consolation prize. Michael Gove, a Conservative with a record of sycophancy towards the media tycoon, is back as a cabinet minister.
Since his bid to lead the ruling Conservatives failed last year, Gove has been writing a column for The Times – a Murdoch title.
Gove has used that platform to argue that Britain should be more strident in its support for Israel. In one article, he advocated that Britain should move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
That would be a reversal of official British policy – which opposes Israel’s settlement activities in occupied East Jerusalem as they violate international law.
Gove has also worked as a pro-Israel lobbyist during the past 12 months.
Misleading
He has become a trustee of the Henry Jackson Society, which he has misleadingly called a “charity dedicated to upholding democratic values worldwide.”
The Henry Jackson Society is not actually dedicated to democracy – if democracy means ordinary folk having a genuine say in their nation’s affairs. Rather, the London-based outfit espouses a neoconservative worldview; it was founded in 2005 to make the case that the US and Britain “must shape the world more actively.”
Support for Israel is integral to its viewpoint. And the group’s staff frequently behave as mouthpieces for Israel – by, for example, depicting those who expose Israel’s human rights abuses as “terrorist” sympathizers.
The Henry Jackson Society is embedded within the wider pro-Israel network in London. In November last, Gove took part in an event that the Henry Jackson Society organized to mark the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, Britain’s 1917 pledge of support for Zionist colonization in Palestine. The event featured, too, an array of Israeli diplomats.
Earlier this year, Gove visited Washington. He met US government officials in his capacity as a lobbyist for the Henry Jackson Society, according to his parliamentary declaration of interests.
Most of his expenses for that trip were covered by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, one of the most powerful organizations in Washington. Gove was a speaker at AIPAC’s annual conference.
Evangelical
He has been active, too, in Conservative Friends of Israel, a pressure group within his party that enjoys extremely close relations with the Israeli state apparatus.
It regularly brings members of parliament on trips to the Middle East. The trips are organized in tandem with and receive significant funding from the Israeli foreign ministry.
The staff at Conservative Friends of Israel include former employees of the Israeli state. Tanyah Murkes, who heads the group’s office in Tel Aviv, has previously worked in “public relations” for an Israeli embassy, for example.
Gove is especially close to David Meller, an entrepreneur in the jewelry and cosmetics trade who has been a senior officer with Conservative Friends of Israel.
When Gove held the post of education secretary in the British government a few years ago, he introduced “reforms” aimed at treating schooling as a commodity, rather than a basic right. Meller was involved in some of the projects under that rubric and was given a post in the education ministry while Gove was steering through his “reforms.”
A man named David Meller was among the donors to Gove’s failed Conservative leadership bid in 2016.
Gove now holds the environment portfolio in the reshuffled British cabinet. If his past performance is anything to go by, there is little chance that he will discard his neoconservative baggage and concentrate on saving the planet.
Before the 2015, general election Gove held the post of government chief whip. He still found time to engage in pro-Israel activities then. It is highly probable that he will do so again.
Parroting Israeli propaganda is almost mandatory for right-wing British politicians. Gove is evangelical in his support for Israel – to the point of praising that state as a “near miraculous” success story.
Perhaps Gove believes the hyperbole that he has churned out. His activities indicate, though, that he is not an independent analyst. He is a gun for hire.
Comments
Gove
Permalink SB_London replied on
Whenever I think my opinion of this man cannot get any lower there is another revelation about his activities.
He should occupy himself with finding the lost £350m/week he promised the NHS instead of promoting oppression of people in other countries.
Gove
Permalink Joe Kelsall replied on
Jesus Christ! Is this the best that AIPAC could do? This man is considered the runt of the litter. Any publicity promoted by this guy would be laughed at. He is the butt of British comedians together with Trump.
And he stays bought, too!
Permalink tom hall replied on
What kind of MP is Michael Gove? This kind-
https://www.theguardian.com/po...
He has received millions from Rupert Murdoch. And he has done everything he could to further his master's aims. In one particularly bold gambit, Gove trousered a very substantial advance payment for a book he did not then and has not since produced- over a period of thirteen years. Perfectly legal, too.
"Murdoch's publishing arm, HarperCollins, also gave Gove a book advance in 2004, when he was first selected for the safe Conservative seat of Surrey Heath. It was for a history of an obscure 18th-century politician, Viscount Bolingbroke.
Puzzlingly, the book was never delivered. HarperCollins refuses to disclose the size of the advance and its size is not specified in Gove's register of financial interests. Asked if his advance should be returned eight years later, HarperCollins says Gove 'is still committed to writing a book on Bolingbroke but obviously his ministerial duties come first for now'. Gove will not comment." (from the above cited article published in 2012)
The man lobbied non-stop for Murdoch's business interests while serving as Education Secretary. Is it any wonder he so consistently militates on behalf of another attentive employer, Israel?
Gove
Permalink larry white replied on
Let the zionists waste their money on MG.There will be another election within 6 months and they will try again to keep Corbyn out .
Sorry , Joan (kiss zionist posterior) Ryan , but your days cavorting with Israel,s spies who are working to "bring down " elected officials of the British Gov , are coming to en end .