Raising awareness through travel to the Middle East  

One of our key objectives is to enable Conservative Parliamentarians and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to visit the Middle East on a CMEC delegation. Each year we plan a series of delegations to Iran, the Arab states and Israel.

In the last few years the Conservative Middle East Council has organised delegations to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Delegates receive high level access to senior ranking officials from Government, business and civil society. Our delegations also include visits to sites of historical and cultural significance.

Previous delegates have greatly appreciated the chance to get to know a new country, immersing themselves in its culture, history and politics. Host countries have also been keen to build deeper links and to further bilateral relations with the UK.

Like membership of CMEC, delegations are only open to Conservative Parliamentarians and where space allows to Prospective Parliamentary Candidates. If you are interested in becoming a member of CMEC and attending a delegation please click here to visit our contact page.

If you have any ideas for a delegation or would like to host or sponsor a delegation please contact Laura Hutchings.

I would strongly encourage Parliamentarians to visit the Middle East on a CMEC delegation. There is no substitute to actually visiting the region if you want to really understand it. CMEC delegations focus on a wide range of issues and can be ‘tailored’ to particular interests if required.

Laura Hutchings, Director of CMEC