Former British Army chief and current peer, Lord Richard Dannatt, lobbied government ministers on behalf of a US defence company after activists from Palestine Action caused significant damage to one of its UK factories, new documents reveal.

In December 2022, Lord Dannatt contacted two Home Office ministers to raise concerns about the “threat” posed by Palestine Action, following an incident at Teledyne’s site in Presteigne, Wales. The company, which supplies technology for military and aerospace use, has employed Dannatt as a paid adviser since 2022.

His intervention came just days after four activists broke into the facility, causing more than £1 million in damage, according to prosecutors. The protest involved smashed windows, drilled roof panels, red paint, and smoke grenades, in opposition to the company’s involvement in arming Israel. Three of the activists later pleaded guilty and were jailed; the fourth went to trial.

Police Concern Over Political Interference

Transcripts from the trial of the fourth activist, obtained by The Guardian, suggest that Lord Dannatt’s actions raised alarm within the police force leading the investigation.

In an internal email dated 19 December 2022, Sgt Alex Stuart of Dyfed-Powys Police informed his superiors that Teledyne executives had discussed the case with Lord Dannatt. Stuart warned that Dannatt appeared interested in influencing the investigation and advised company representatives that it would be “unwise to have a member of the House of Lords poking around in a live criminal case.”

He added that it remained unclear what exactly Dannatt wanted, but suggested that any concerns about Palestine Action’s wider tactics should be raised with senior police leadership, not the investigative team.

A senior officer later confirmed the Chief Constable had been briefed and acknowledged that while Lord Dannatt was entitled to express concerns, this did not guarantee action on his suggestions.

During court proceedings in May 2023, defence counsel questioned Sgt Stuart about the peer’s involvement. He admitted to being “concerned” and confirmed he had warned Teledyne it was inappropriate. However, the prosecution argued there was “no evidence” of improper influence, saying the matter ended with police declining to engage with Dannatt. The trial judge agreed and ruled that the peer was not relevant to the case, barring his name from being disclosed in court.

Lord Dannatt’s Response

Lord Dannatt has rejected allegations of interference, describing the officer’s concerns as “unfounded” and pointing to the judge’s conclusion that he had no role in the trial. He suggested that Teledyne’s UK management may have invoked his name to bolster their position.

Teledyne and its general manager did not respond to requests for comment.

Lobbying Ministers on Company’s Behalf

Just three days after that police email, Lord Dannatt held a video call with Teledyne’s UK general manager and another executive. He later confirmed he was asked to help raise the company’s concerns with the government.

Following the meeting, he wrote to then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman. In his letter—sent under official House of Lords letterhead—he declared his paid role with Teledyne and warned that Palestine Action posed a wider threat to UK security and the economy.

He criticised the “slow pace” of legal proceedings against the group, claiming it had encouraged more direct action and recruitment. He sought assurance that the UK’s security services were taking appropriate action and told Braverman he intended to brief Teledyne’s board in the US on the government’s response.

Dannatt followed up again in September 2024, after further protests at Teledyne facilities. This time, he wrote to Labour’s security minister, Dan Jarvis, again using House of Lords letterhead and again disclosing his advisory role. He repeated his request for assurance that the threat from Palestine Action was being addressed at the highest levels.

Context: Crackdown on Palestine Action

In July 2025, the UK government formally proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The move has been fiercely criticised by civil liberties groups and legal experts, who described it as draconian and politically motivated. Palestine Action is now challenging the legality of the ban in court.

Despite rejecting allegations of wrongdoing, Lord Dannatt is currently under investigation by House of Lords authorities over two alleged breaches of parliamentary lobbying rules—one based on undercover footage published by The Guardian.