Latest news with #RichardHermerKC
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Richard Hermer backs down after comparing Tories and Reform to Nazis
Richard Hermer KC, who is Attorney General is the UK Government's top legal officer, made the comparisons during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute on Thursday. Speaking about the 'role of the law and the international rules-based order', Hermer said Labour's approach was the 'rejection of the siren song, that can sadly, now be heard in the Palace of Westminster, and in some spectrums of the media, that Britain abandons the constraints of international law in favour of raw power'. READ MORE: Gerry Adams wins €100k in libel trial as jury finds BBC 'did not act in good faith' He went on: 'This is not a new song. The claim that international law is fine as far as it goes, but can be put aside when conditions change, is a claim that was made in the early 1930s by 'realist' jurists in Germany most notably Carl Schmitt, whose central thesis was in essence the claim that state power is all that counts, not law. 'Because of the experience of what followed in 1933, far-sighted individuals rebuilt and transformed the institutions of international law, as well as internal constitutional law.' Schmitt was a prominent Nazi theorist and supported the rise of Adolf Hitler during the 1930s. Hermer's words have been widely read as an attack on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, although prominent Conservatives have also openly called for the UK to retreat from international legal agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Tory leader Kemi BadenochThe current Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has herself stopped short of calling for the UK to leave the ECHR. However, she suggested the UK would have to leave the convention if it stops the country from doing 'what is right'. Farage has said he would get rid of the ECHR, and told ITV in April that 'we have to get back the ability to decide, can we really control our borders'. Right-wing UK newspapers and media outlets have also supported calls to leave the ECHR. READ MORE: 'Unacceptable': SNP call out BBC over by-election programme On Friday, Hermer's spokesperson said the Labour minister regretted making the comparison to Nazi Germany. 'The Attorney General gave a speech defending international law, which underpins our security, protects against threats from aggressive states like Russia and helps tackle organised immigration crime,' they said. 'He rejects the characterisation of his speech by the Conservatives. He acknowledges, though, that his choice of words was clumsy and regrets having used this reference.'
Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Lord Hermer's ‘Nazi jibe' shows his naivety
Amid talk of a summer reshuffle, I recently asked a senior member of the Labour party if he thought the Attorney-General was likely for the chop. He paused and reflected. 'No', he eventually replied. 'But he's going the right way about it.' Similar sentiments will no doubt be expressed in Downing Street today as they pore over the morning papers. 'Law chief in Nazi jibe at Tories and Reform', screams the splash headline of today's Times: Richard Hermer KC has done it again. The cause of the headline is a speech which Hermer made to the RUSI think tank yesterday on the government's commitment to international law. The Labour peer made a thoughtful, lucid speech critiquing Bismarckian notions of realpolitik and offering a reasoned defence of the rules-based order – including Britain's commitment to the European Court of Human Rights. But one section of the speech leaps out from the page:
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Attorney General compares calls to leave international courts with Nazi Germany
The Attorney General appears to have compared calls for the UK to leave international courts with Nazi Germany. Lord Richard Hermer KC said the idea that the UK can breach international obligations is a 'radical departure from the UK's constitutional tradition'. Lord Hermer used a speech in London on Thursday to say claims that international law can be 'put aside' were made in the early 1930s in Germany. In a version of his speech to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) thinktank, published on the website, Lord Hermer suggested the Government's approach is a 'rejection of the siren song' that can be 'heard in the Palace of Westminster' in which 'Britain abandons the constraints of international law in favour of raw power'. 'This is not a new song,' he said. 'The claim that international law is fine as far as it goes, but can be put aside when conditions change, is a claim that was made in the early 1930s by 'realist' jurists in Germany, most notably Carl Schmitt, whose central thesis was in essence the claim that state power is all that counts, not law.' Lord Hermer also said that because of what happened 'in 1933, far-sighted individuals rebuilt and transformed the institutions of international law'. That is the year that Adolf Hitler became German chancellor. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stopped short of calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as other Conservative figures have advocated. However, she suggested the UK would have to leave the convention if it stops the country from doing 'what is right'. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he would get rid of the ECHR, and told ITV in April that 'we have to get back the ability to decide, can we really control our borders'. In his same speech to Rusi on Thursday, the Attorney General said 'we must not stagnate in our approach to international rules' and that officials should 'look to apply and adapt existing obligations to address new situations'.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Attorney General compares calls to leave international courts with Nazi Germany
The Attorney General appears to have compared calls for the UK to leave international courts with Nazi Germany. Lord Richard Hermer KC said the idea that the UK can breach international obligations is a 'radical departure from the UK's constitutional tradition'. Lord Hermer used a speech in London on Thursday to say claims that international law can be 'put aside' were made in the early 1930s in Germany. In a version of his speech to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) thinktank, published on the website, Lord Hermer suggested the Government's approach is a 'rejection of the siren song' that can be 'heard in the Palace of Westminster' in which 'Britain abandons the constraints of international law in favour of raw power'. 'This is not a new song,' he said. 'The claim that international law is fine as far as it goes, but can be put aside when conditions change, is a claim that was made in the early 1930s by 'realist' jurists in Germany, most notably Carl Schmitt, whose central thesis was in essence the claim that state power is all that counts, not law.' Lord Hermer also said that because of what happened 'in 1933, far-sighted individuals rebuilt and transformed the institutions of international law'. That is the year that Adolf Hitler became German chancellor. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stopped short of calling for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as other Conservative figures have advocated. However, she suggested the UK would have to leave the convention if it stops the country from doing 'what is right'. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he would get rid of the ECHR, and told ITV in April that 'we have to get back the ability to decide, can we really control our borders'. In his same speech to Rusi on Thursday, the Attorney General said 'we must not stagnate in our approach to international rules' and that officials should 'look to apply and adapt existing obligations to address new situations'. 'We must be ready to reform where necessary,' he added.
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Misinformation being ‘whipped up' over immigration cases
Misinformation is being 'whipped up' over asylum and immigration cases in relation to international human rights law, the Government's top legal adviser has said. Lord Richard Hermer KC warned there is a 'real job on misinformation' around Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the right to private and family life, in how it is applied to immigration cases in the UK. Giving evidence to Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday, the Attorney General said: 'There is clearly a lot of information, misinformation, that is being whipped up in the context of asylum and immigration in particular, Article 8. 'Many of you will have heard banded around the idea that the courts have allowed a foreign national offender to stay here because his child will miss chicken McNuggets. 'That is doing the rounds. 'What is not doing the rounds is that that case went to the Upper Tribunal, who categorically rejected that as an Article 8 argument. 'They rejected the claim.' He added: ' Courts are always going to make mistakes. 'That's why we have appeal courts, and that's what's happened here.' The senior lawyer however said it was 'entirely right' for the Home Secretary to conduct a review on the use of Article 8 in migration cases in the UK. Yvette Cooper confirmed on Monday the review will be particularly focusing on cases where ministers have disagreed with the conclusions reached in the courts. Several deportation attempts have been halted by how the ECHR clause has been interpreted in UK law. Lord Hermer said there has been a 'rise' in the number of decisions reported at First Tier immigration tribunals on the basis of Article 8 that are 'capable of suggesting that it is not being applied properly or appropriately'. He told the committee: 'I want to make clear in all my comments about decisions of any court that I am categorically not criticising judges. 'I think there is real merit in checking that Article 8 is being properly understood and applied, because, as I've said, you can have a very, very robust but fair process in asylum and immigration context that is entirely compatible with Article 8.' He added there needs to be checks on the 'right calibration' of casework decisions and also that the Government is being robust in appealing against decisions. 'Completely understand that people are concerned, so are we,' he said. 'We are determined to ensure that the immigration asylum system is as robust, efficient and fair as it can be, and you can do an awful lot that is compatible. 'All of this I should stress will be within Article 8.' Elsewhere, the Attorney General was quizzed by MPs and peers on how he ensures the Government receives impartial advice on questions of human rights law after a 'long career at the bar'. It comes after Lord Hermer faced questions about how his previous work, including representing former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, could result in possible conflicts of interest in his Government work. But he replied: 'Well, I think the short answer is that's by doing the best I can.' 'It's absolutely essential that governments of whatever colour receive objective, legal advice.'
