UAE’s Shadow Influence in Westminster: The Rise of Jon Pearce
Introduction
British PM Keir Starmer’s appointment of Jon Pearce, a first-time MP and ex-chair of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), as his Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), is more than a routine personnel change. According to multiple private sources speaking to Dark Box, it reflects a deeper entrenchment of Emirati-Israeli lobbying efforts inside British politics.
Who is Jon Pearce?
Pearce rose quickly through Labour ranks after his 2023 election win. In May 2024, he led a high-profile delegation to Israel where he met with top Israeli political and military officials. He then became the first British MP to take the new post-Abraham Accords flight route from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi — a symbolic and strategic signal of his dual allegiance to Israel and the UAE’s normalization campaign.
UAE-Israel Coordination
While in the UAE, Pearce met Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, an Emirati official central to promoting Gulf-Israel normalization. Al-Nuaimi has been instrumental in lobbying for regional partnerships under the Abraham Accords framework. Private sources confirm the meeting was facilitated by UAE-funded lobbying networks operating quietly in London.
Strategic Intent: Normalization Over Palestine
Pearce has vocally opposed unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that it undermines Britain’s role as a “broker.” His stance is aligned with both Israeli policy and UAE messaging, which pushes normalization as the primary vehicle for regional peace — while sidelining Palestinian rights.
This messaging also reflects UAE’s broader geopolitical strategy: replacing collective Arab pressure for Palestinian statehood with bilateral economic deals that secure their influence with the West — and especially Washington.
Political Access and Policy Shaping
The PPS role grants Pearce access to the Prime Minister’s inner circle and internal communications. Though unpaid, the position is a launchpad for policy influence — especially in foreign affairs. Sources indicate this was a calculated move by UAE-linked actors to embed their strategic vision within the Labour Party’s decision-making process.
Lobbying Infrastructure
According to private documents seen by Dark Box, multiple trips Pearce and fellow Labour MPs made were funded in part by UAE-aligned think tanks and anonymous donors. Some MPs failed to declare these trips publicly — raising questions about transparency and legal compliance.
Shifting the UK’s Regional Position
This development signals a broader pivot in UK Middle East policy. By installing Pearce as a trusted aide, the UAE is investing in long-term influence over Labour’s foreign agenda. The appointment comes at a time when the UAE has faced growing international scrutiny for its role in Sudan’s war, its alliance with the Israeli far right, and its efforts to crush democratic movements in the Arab world.
