The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has opened an investigation into Conservative MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, following revelations that a state-owned Israeli weapons company helped fund a parliamentary group he co-chaired.
The probe, opened on 10 July 2025, concerns a potential breach of Rule 10 of the MPs’ Code of Conduct, which relates to due diligence around the funding of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs).
Dr Shastri-Hurst, who represents Solihull West and Shirley, is being investigated over his role in the APPG on Defence Technology, which received at least £1,499 from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd – a UK subsidiary of Israeli defence giant Rafael. Rafael is wholly owned by the Israeli government and manufactures a range of weapons, including urban combat missiles and torpedoes.
Parliamentary rules prohibit APPGs from accepting secretariat support “funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government.” The money from RUK was paid to the group’s secretariat, raising questions over compliance with these rules.
The inquiry follows a Declassified UK investigation that revealed RUK’s connection to the Israeli state and the company’s now-scrubbed presence on the APPG’s official records. According to Declassified UK, after media enquiries, the group’s website was rapidly edited to remove any mention of RUK, and the company’s own website went offline shortly after.
In response to the revelations, Dr Shastri-Hurst reportedly referred the matter to the Commissioner himself. This self-referral, while rare, may be viewed as an effort to pre-empt further criticism, particularly as Shastri-Hurst currently sits on the very Standards Committee that oversees parliamentary conduct. He is also a qualified barrister.
Despite requests by Declassified UK, the APPG and other MPs involved have so far declined to comment on the situation. RUK did not respond either, but company filings show changes were quickly made to its corporate structure following media inquiries – though it remains under Israeli state ownership.
Former Standards Committee member Tommy Sheppard described the funding as a “crystal clear breach of the rules.”
The Commissioner’s office has confirmed that an inquiry is underway but, in line with protocol, will not comment further until a determination is made. Once concluded, the outcome – whether a breach occurred or not – will be published on the Commissioner’s website.