Political row over Wolverhampton MP's free trip to Israel - in 2012

Rob Marris, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for the seat, has launched an attack on Conservative opponent Paul Uppal MP for taking the trip.

The MP visited the country two years ago in a visit paid for by the Conservative Friends of Israel, costing £1,925.

Mr Marris said Mr Uppal "prejudiced his position" by going.

But Mr Uppal defended the visit, saying there was "no conflict of interest" and that he met both Israelis and Palestinians, including a meeting in the West Bank.

It comes as the conflict in Gaza intensifies with growing concern over an increasing civilian death toll, with almost 1,500 Palestinians killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

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Mr Marris, the former MP for the area, said: "I am saddened that Mr Uppal chose to accept a free trip to Israel in 2012, paid for by the Conservative Friends of Israel, costing £1,925.

"He has prejudiced his position by accepting that gift. In nine years as an MP, I never accepted a trip paid for by a third party, and neither should he. He should have paid for that trip himself."

Mr Uppal, who won the seat in the 2010 General Election, retorted: "These delegations are arranged with the aim of educating and informing on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

"When I was there I met with Israelis from across the political spectrum and spent a day in the West Bank meeting with Palestinians.

"There is no conflict of interest here, delegations to important political spots around the world are widely available to MPs from all parties.

"As an MP I have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of delegations in order to inform, first hand, my thinking on these important issues.

My contributions to this debate are now based on real experiences with both Israelis and Palestinians."

Mr Marris said of the current situation in Gaza: "I am outraged by the actions of the government of Israel. They are attacking innocent people, and are even targeting places of refuge such as schools. It is sheer brutality. Their actions are illegal and unacceptable.

"Both sides should implement an immediate unconditional ceasefire and return to the negotiating table in good faith. Israel bears a particular responsibility.

"It calls itself civilised, but routinely breaks international law. Israel's illegal actions include the construction of the West Bank wall, the preventive detention of children, the detention of adults without charge for years, assassination of opponents, and above all the continued construction of illegal colonies - so-called 'settlements' - on stolen land."