Pressure mounts on Attorney General over past battles to block migrant deportations
PRESSURE mounted on the Attorney General last night as it emerged he previously battled in the courts to prevent migrants being deported.
Lord Richard Hermer was already under scrutiny having recently pocketed £30,000 for representing Gerry Adams.
As a lawyer he also acted for an Eritrean man claiming to be an unaccompanied child migrant against the Home Office.
His argument that the government’s age assessment guidance was unlawful was ultimately thrown out by the Supreme Court, according to the Telegraph.
Downing Street last night suggested Lord Hermer would be barred from advising on cases where there could be a conflict of interest.
A No10 spokesman said there is an “an established system ensuring law officers would not be consulted on any cases or issues that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest.”
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It likely includes the work to repeal the Tories’ Northern Ireland Legacy Bill that prevents former IRA suspects like Mr Adams claiming compensation.
Lord Hermer acted for the ex-Sinn Fein leader but this week refused to disclose details of his pay arrangement.
A spokesperson for the Attorney General said: “Law Officers, by their experience and very professional nature will have an extensive legal background and may have previously been involved in a wide number of past cases.
“That is why there is a robust system for considering and managing any conflicts that may arise, in line with the professional obligations of Law Officers.
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“There is the established process on Ministerial declarations, with previous employment and interests having been published for the public record.”
Lord Hermer is the first Attorney General since 1922 never to have sat in the House of Commons.
At the time of his appointment, one fellow legal professional said that Hermer “would not be distracted by politics”.
