Published: 05 August ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk
Lord Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army and current member of the House of Lords, is at the centre of serious allegations over his relationship with the US defence contractor Teledyne, following claims that he sought to influence a live police investigation into activists from the protest group Palestine Action.
The controversy emerged after reports revealed that Lord Dannatt privately urged government ministers to take firm action against Palestine Action, following a high-profile protest in December 2022 that caused over £1 million in damages to Teledyne’s factory in Presteigne, Wales. The US-based multinational company, which specializes in defence and aerospace technology, employs Dannatt as a paid adviser — a role he has held since 2022.
The intervention raised concerns of inappropriate influence after court proceedings revealed that a senior police officer, investigating the factory attack, felt that Lord Dannatt was trying to “have some input” into the active investigation. The officer, Sergeant Alex Stuart of Dyfed-Powys Police, expressed to his superiors that it would be “unwise to have a member of the House of Lords poking around in a live criminal case.”
Although the presiding judge in the trial ruled that there was no evidence of interference and refused to allow Dannatt’s name to be raised during proceedings, the revelations prompted a formal inquiry by parliamentary authorities. Lord Dannatt is now under investigation for potentially breaching House of Lords rules on lobbying. The allegations follow separate claims, previously uncovered in undercover reporting, which also question his compliance with parliamentary conduct guidelines.
Defending his actions, Lord Dannatt insists he acted with full transparency and integrity. He confirmed that he disclosed his paid role with Teledyne in correspondence with government ministers and said his concerns went beyond corporate interests. “The threat from Palestine Action has more widespread implications for security and the economy within the United Kingdom,” he wrote in a December 2022 letter to then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
According to documents and email exchanges presented during the trial, Dannatt’s involvement began shortly after the attack on the Welsh facility, when Teledyne executives reportedly reached out to him for assistance in addressing the group’s escalating actions. He subsequently held meetings with the company’s leadership and wrote letters to government officials in December 2022 and again in September 2024, urging stronger security responses.
The situation underscores the growing scrutiny over the dual roles held by members of the British upper chamber — many of whom simultaneously serve as advisers to private corporations. Critics argue that such appointments create blurred lines between public duty and corporate advocacy, especially when public resources or legal proceedings may be influenced.
Supporters of Palestine Action have condemned the government’s ban on the group, introduced in July 2025, calling it an authoritarian crackdown on dissent. The group, known for targeting companies it accuses of complicity in Israel’s military actions, is currently challenging the ban in court, arguing it infringes on civil liberties.
While Lord Dannatt maintains his actions were confined to legitimate government correspondence and information-seeking, legal professionals and ethics campaigners continue to raise concerns about transparency, privilege, and power within the British political system. As the investigation by House of Lords authorities continues, it remains to be seen whether further disciplinary action or reforms to lobbying rules will follow.
