Sir Alan Duncan, who worked in the Foreign Office between 2010 and 2014, and also between 2016 and 2019, has called for the UK to stop exporting arms to Israel.

He sat as a Conservative MP between 1992 and 2019.

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Speaking to LBC this morning, he said the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) group had been "doing the bidding of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, bypassing all proper processes of government to exercise undue influence at the top of government".

Sky News understands the party has told Sir Alan he is being investigated - although this could take weeks.

In the interview, he singled out Lord Stuart Polak, the honorary president of the CFI, and Lord Eric Pickles, as among those who should face punishment for their support of Israel.

Sir Alan also criticised former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Priti Patel, as well as Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, and ex-Home Office minister Robert Jenrick.

He also claimed security minister Tom Tugendhat should be "sacked" for his previous stance on Israel.

Sky News has approached the Conservatives mentioned in Sir Alan's LBC interview for their response.

In response to news of the investigation, Sir Alan said: "Although I have heard nothing myself, I have been told by many in the media that the Conservative Party has issued a statement to say that I am to be investigated by them with a view to expulsion.

"They did not lay out any substantive grounds for their action.

"If this is indeed their intention, I will probably be the only person ever to be reproached for upholding his party's policy and for defending the principles of international law and justice in the face of others who would undermine them.

"Should they choose to pursue this, they should not be surprised if it rebounds on them massively and proves dangerously harmful to their own reputation."