Leading Labour peer Lord Glasman has said Attorney General Richard Hermer is an “arrogant, progressive fool” and called for him to quit. The Telegraph has more.
In signs of a deepening split in the party, Lord Glasman, who founded the Blue Labour group which focuses on socially conservative values, said that Lord Hermer has “got to go” as he believes that “law is a replacement for politics”.
It comes after a series of conflict of interest rows that have engulfed the Attorney General since it emerged that Gerry Adams, one of his former clients, could receive compensation for his detention during the Troubles.
The Telegraph revealed on Monday that he has previously advised Caribbean nations seeking reparations for slavery.
Lord Glasman told the New Statesman: “He’s got to go. He is the absolute archetype of an arrogant, progressive fool who thinks that law is a replacement for politics. … They talk about the rule of law but what they want is a rule of lawyers.”
There have also been reports of Lord Hermer strengthening guidance to tell lawyers that they must advise ministers if they think policies could be unlawful, prompting accusations that he is delaying Government work.
Sir Keir Starmer appointed Lord Hermer to the role, with the pair having been personal friends since the Prime Minister’s days as a barrister.
Lord Glasman was the only Labour figure to attend the inauguration of President Trump last month and expressed frustration with the Government’s handling of the Chagos Islands deal.
Nigel Farage has called for Lord Hermer to be sacked over the deal, which would see Britain hand over the archipelago to Mauritius, as he accused him of prioritising international law over the national interest.
The Attorney General signalled that he welcomed a fight with his critics in an interview with The House magazine last month.
He told the publication: “If they are criticising the Government because it wants to comply with international law, if they want to pick a fight with the Government because it says international law is important and that we want to uphold international law, then that’s a fight I’d quite look forward to.”
He added that compliance with international law is “absolutely essential for peace and security” and “allows markets to flourish with certainty”. Lord Hermer was contacted for comment.
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