Keir Starmer set to appoint Israel trade envoy
Lord Austin, Israel envoy under the previous government since 2019, is on a list of names being considered for the role, Westminster sources told Jewish News
Keir Starmer is expected to confirm the appointment of a trade envoy for Israel – with the independent peer Lord Austin among those considered for the role.
Westminster sources confirmed the PM is keen to make the Israel-related appointment and his government was keen for collaboration over trade and investment following a meeting with President Isaac Herzog in July.
Trade envoys are appointed by governments where substantial trade and investment opportunities have been identified.
It is understood that Starmer has yet to appoint his trade envoys, with all previous roles ending with the general election in July.
Lord Austin was first appointed trade envoy to Israel back in 2019 in a role handed to him by former PM Boris Johnson after he quit Labour that year citing the “culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance”.
Austin has been far less critical of the party under Starmer’s leadership, and still has friends within it.
He is well-regarded for his extensive contacts in Israel.
While other names are likely to be submitted to the PM for the trade envoy role, Austin is believed to have supporters at a senior level.
Free trade negotiations between Israel and the UK began in July 2022 and talks have continued throughout Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
A fifth round of talks took place in April this year, and in July, Britain’s new Labour government confirmed its plans to resume the talks.
A government spokesperson said its decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel was “separate to our commitment to deliver our trade negotiations” The UK continues to view Israel as an important ally and the bond between Britain and Israel continues to be of vital importance. Boosting growth and jobs is at the heart of our mission and that’s why we’re building on the £6.1billion of trade and 38,000 British jobs that the UK-Israel relationship already provides.”
Trade envoys are a network of appointed parliamentarians, drawn from the House of Commons and Lords and elsewhere across the political spectrum. The role is unpaid and voluntary.
They are tasked with supporting the drive for economic growth by building on the UK’s existing relations with these markets and help UK businesses take advantage of the opportunities arising from our global trade agenda.
The PM’s Trade Envoy programme began in 2012.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
