EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham leadership campaign was funded by Israeli citizen who served with the IDF. To date, no British…

EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham leadership campaign was funded by Israeli citizen who served with the IDF. To date, no British newspaper has printed this story. But today, I am revealing his identity:🧵

At the age of 17, David Garrard volunteered for military service with the IDF. According to the Times, the trip was the “start of a lifelong devotion to the state of Israel”. In 2015, Garrard gave Andy Burnham £35,000 as he attempted to take control of the Labour Party.

Garrard, who passed away last year, was previously an executive director of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group. Over a 15-year period, the ex-IDF operative donated approximately £1.5 million to Labour. Although born in the UK, Garrard later “acquired” Israeli citizenship.

In 2016, David Garrard gave over £10,000 to then Labour MP Ian Austin. Austin also accepted a donation from the Australia Israel Cultural Exchange, a think tank co-founded by Benjamin Netanyahu. He now serves as Andy Burnham’s UK Trade Envoy to Israel.

Pat McFadden also received over £10,000 from David Garrard. McFadden, a former vice-chair of LFI, has previously been described as “the most powerful Labour politician most have never heard of”. Upon taking power, Andy Burnham promptly appointed him to cabinet.

Pat McFadden previously served as a deputy to disgraced Epstein-associate Peter Mandelson. Mandelson’s other deputy at the time was David Lammy. In March 2015, former Israeli soldier David Garrard gifted Lammy £7500.

Now Labour peer Tom Watson received £40k from David Garrard. Addressing an LFI lunch, Watson said it was a “special pleasure” to have Israeli ambassador Mark Regev present. The Telegraph reported Garrard’s IDF stint as the start of a “lifelong attachment to the Israeli cause”.

Labour’s former Chancellor Rachel Reeves received even more, £44,000, from ex-IDF operative David Garrard. Reeves has also been heavily financed by Victor Blank, vice president of the JLC lobby group. Last year, Reeves praised Garrard for his “unsurpassed commitment to Israel”.

Under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, ex-IDF volunteer David Garrard said that Labour had been “hijacked by an ultra-left cabal” who wanted to “turn our nation into a socialist republic.” He immediately demanded the return of a £2 million loan. But under Starmer, Garrard rejoined.

The year after Burnham’s failed leadership bid, then Labour MP Chuka Umunna received £25,000 from David Garrard. On May 12th of this year, Umunna was spotted entering Downing Street. No. 10 insisted he was there for a “routine” visit. By July, Andy Burnham was Prime Minister.

Yvette Cooper also received £25,000 from former Israeli soldier David Garrard. Under Keir Starmer, Cooper secured the proscription of Palestine Action. Shortly after taking power, and despite her links to private healthcare donors, Andy Burnham made Cooper Health Secretary.

Joan Ryan received over £18,000 from ex-IDF operative David Garrard. Whilst serving as a Labour MP, Ryan was revealed to be talking to Israeli spy Shai Masot “most days”. She is now CEO of ELNET’s UK branch. ELNET lists the Israeli Foreign Ministry as one of its “partners”.

Ex-Labour minister Ivan Lewis received £10,000 from David Garrard. Lewis, a former LFI vice-chair, was suspended from the party in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lewis is now a special adviser to the “Africa Israel Partnership”.

Back in April, I became the first British reporter to uncover the IDF diary of Labour peer Jonathan Kestenbaum. Now, I am revealing the military connections of a key Burnham donor. If you support what I do, please consider making a contribution: chuffed.org/project/189578…

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