The Foreign Secretary has received a pre-action letter from the Corner House - Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

David Lammy has been threatened with legal action over claims that a Foreign Office job swap programme with BAE Systems could hand staff “improper influence” over Britain’s policy towards Israel.

In a pre-action letter to the Foreign Secretary, environmental charity The Corner House raised “serious concerns” about potential conflicts of interest. It urged officials to explain whether BAE employees would be involved in shaping policy.

In particular, the charity demanded answers from the Government as to whether BAE staff would be involved in matters relating to “potential or actual genocide in Palestine” and the “licensing of arms exports”.

The legal threat emerged after Mr Lammy invited staff from BAE and Shell to swap jobs with diplomats in Whitehall to help “champion their interests overseas”.

The Corner House, which has instructed lawyers at Leigh Day, called on the Foreign Office to “confirm whether embedded BAE Systems staff will be involved directly or indirectly in advising, commenting, deciding on law and/or policy relating to trade and/or foreign affairs (including humanitarian affairs)”.

Without an adequate response, the charity said it was prepared to launch legal proceedings about the scheme’s lawfulness.

Nicholas Hildyard, who founded The Corner House, said: “This scheme cries out for judicial scrutiny.

“Seconding employees from powerful corporations to the Foreign Office or other ministries (and vice versa) is a recipe for potential serious conflicts of interest.”

BAE Systems is currently one of the biggest exporters of British arms to Israel through a US-run scheme that enables the sale of F-35 jet parts to the Israel Defence Forces.

A BAE spokesman said: “We do not have operations or employees based in Israel or Gaza and we do not currently sell military equipment directly to the Government of Israel.”

The legal letter comes after the Foreign Office last September suspended 30 licences that had allowed British companies to sell arms to be used in Gaza.

This decision was made amid concerns the weapons could be used to “commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law”.

The Corner House’s letter also raised concerns that BAE staff could have a broader influence over British policy in other conflict zones, especially where “arms companies are selling arms and munitions”.

The letter added that Shell’s involvement in the job exchange programme risks giving the oil giant too much influence over policy.

Lauren Chaplin, a solicitor at Leigh Day, said: “Integrity and impartiality are integral to the Civil Service Code.

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“Against that backdrop, and the UK’s obligations on climate change and human rights, it cannot be right that arms and oil companies are invited into the heart of the FCDO.”

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We strongly reject these suggestions and make no apology for striking new partnerships with British businesses to harness their expertise, champion their interests overseas and drive growth for the British public.

“As with existing secondments, clear standards will be rigorously applied with regard to confidentiality, information security and management of potential conflicts of interest.

“Secondments between the Civil Service and the private sector are commonplace.”

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