Now Labour's Attorney General Lord Hermer dodges scrutiny - again

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The Attorney General was yesterday accused of running scared as the Lord Speaker blocked a second debate into ‘conflict of interest’ concerns about his past clients.

The Tories asked the upper house for a debate about Lord Hermer’s potential role in a string of controversial government decisions.

This was after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle blocked MPs from having one.

But the office of Lord McFall, the Lord Speaker, also dismissed the demand for an urgent hearing.

Lord Hermer is facing questions over his potential role in a series of controversial moves by ministers, including a law change which paves the way for Gerry Adams to receive taxpayer-funded compensation.

The Attorney General represented the ex-Sinn Fein leader before being appointed Sir Keir Starmer’s top legal adviser last year.

But he has refused to say whether he gave legal advice approving of the proposed law change which is likely to benefit his former client.

In a bid to get answers, the Tories tabled an Urgent Question - a key tool used by the Opposition frontbench to grill ministers in the interests of transparency - in the Commons on Monday and in the Lords yesterday.

Lord Richard Hermer (pictured) is facing questions over his potential role in a series of controversial moves by ministers, including a law change which paves the way for Gerry Adams to receive taxpayer-funded compensation 

The Attorney General represented ex-Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams before being appointed Sir Keir Starmer ’s top legal adviser last year

But the Commons debate was rejected by Sir Lindsay after Lord Hermer’s department said it shouldn’t be granted. It is understood, however, that his department had no contact with the Lord Speaker’s office.

Former Tory Home Secretary and Attorney General, Suella Braverman KC, said: ‘How can the public have confidence in the Attorney General when he refuses to answer legitimate questions about his past?

‘He must come clean on this cover-up and be answerable to Parliament or resign.

‘How have we stooped so low as to have Gerry Adams’ and Shamina Begum’s former lawyer representing His Majesty’s Government?

‘The public deserves to know the truth on the catalogue of criminals that Lord Hermer has represented. What has he got to hide?’

Tory MP Sir Ashley Fox said: ‘The British people rightly expect their public officials to face scrutiny.

‘Lord Hermer, as an unelected Attorney General, should be prepared to answer basic questions about conflicts of interest arising from his private practice as a barrister.

‘If he declines to provide clarity about previous cases where he has acted against the British Government, the public may conclude that he has something to hide.’

Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle (pictured) blocked a debate on into ‘conflict of interest’ concerns around Lord Hermer 

Lord McFall (pictured), the Lord Speaker, also dismissed the demand for an urgent hearing

The Government is repealing legislation that currently bars Adams from suing ministers over his ‘unlawful’ detention in prison in the 1970s.

When he was a practising barrister, Lord Hermer represented Adams in a separate case involving compensation claims by the victims of IRA bomb attacks.

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He has refused to answer questions about whether he recused himself over the law change which is set to benefit his former client, citing the Law Officers’ Convention - a rule that Attorney Generals cannot reveal what legal advice they have given the Government.

Over the weekend it also emerged that Lord Hermer previously represented a group of asylum seekers who were given a ‘one-off’ deal to come to Britain from the Chagos Islands just months after his appointment.

He has also acted for human rights group Liberty in 2020 in the case of jihadi bride Shamima Begum, arguing she should be allowed to return to Britain.

In 2023 he represented the families of Afghan civilians at the Independent Inquiry on Afghanistan, which is scrutinising the actions of British Special Forces.

Sir Robert Buckland, a former Lord Chancellor, said: ‘The best way for the Attorney General to deal with this would be to make a statement clarifying that of course he would not be involved in any issue where a conflict arose.

Former Tory Home Secretary and Attorney General, Suella Braverman KC (pictured), said: ‘How can the public have confidence in the Attorney General when he refuses to answer legitimate questions about his past?'

Sir Robert Buckland (pictured), a former Lord Chancellor, said: ‘The best way for the Attorney General to deal with this would be to make a statement clarifying that of course he would not be involved in any issue where a conflict arose'

‘Then the Attorney General could pre-empt the Urgent Question applications by making an Oral Statement.

‘A simple explanation here would clarify things.’

A Lord Speaker spokesman said: ‘All applications for Private Notice Questions (Lords urgent questions) have to meet criteria set by the House before they can be considered.

‘Any Private Notice Question that is submitted is assessed for admissibility against the rules.’