Reports of Israeli embassy official discussing how to discredit government minister is extremely disturbing, says Emily Thornberry

Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on reports that Israel's ambassador to the UK has been secretly filmed saying he wanted to "take down" Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan, said:

"The exposure of an Israeli embassy official discussing how to bring down or discredit a government minister and other MPs because of their views on the Middle East is extremely disturbing.

“Improper interference in our democratic politics by other states is unacceptable whichever country is involved.

“It is simply not good enough for the Foreign Office to say the matter is closed. This is a national security issue.

“The embassy official involved should be withdrawn, and the Government should launch an immediate inquiry into the extent of this improper interference and demand from the Israeli government that it be brought to an end."