UK's Starmer appoints pro-Israel lobbyist as parliamentary private secretary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Jon Pearce, the chair of the pro-Israel lobby group Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), as his parliamentary private secretary. Pearce, who was elected as an MP in 2024, has stepped down from his LFI role to take the new position. The appointment is notable as Pearce recently visited Israel to "show solidarity" and has publicly opposed Britain unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state. The role of parliamentary private secretary is a coveted, though unpaid, position due to the access it provides to the prime minister.