Controversial Dinner Sparks Outcry Over Attorney General’s Conduct
Attorney General Lord Hermer recently faced scrutiny following revelations of a private dinner with Martyn Day, the head of a law firm currently suing the government for substantial damages, as reported by The i Paper. Hermer, who serves as the chief legal adviser to Sir Keir Starmer and previously worked alongside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, dined with Day on the evening of December 17.
Leigh Day, the law firm in question, boasts a history of representing clients in legal battles against the government. At present, they are advocating for over 3,000 military personnel who allege that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) overcharged them for rent on military accommodations. This action could potentially result in claims amounting to millions of pounds. The dinner, described by one attendee as a “long-postponed social meeting of friends,” has raised concerns regarding the appropriateness of such a gathering.
Critics, including a senior Labour MP, have labeled the meeting as “inappropriate,” while former Conservative Justice Minister Iain Duncan Smith emphasized the need for transparency. He stated, “To ensure that there is no conflict of interest, the government should disclose all call transcripts, emails, and minutes related to the meeting.” He also questioned whether a civil servant was present at the dinner, suggesting that their absence would warrant further explanation.
Prior to his appointment as Attorney General, Hermer represented Leigh Day in various lawsuits against the government, including cases involving alleged war crimes in regions such as Kenya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. This latest disclosure only amplifies the mounting pressure on Hermer, who is already facing criticism for his previous representation of contentious figures, including former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
The meeting has also sparked frustration among cabinet colleagues who perceive Hermer as a “blocker” to policy initiatives, insisting that all changes must have solid legal backing. Evidence of the dinner surfaced from a departmental hospitality register, which noted that Lord Hermer had received a £50 meal in the days leading up to Christmas. However, the Attorney General’s office claimed that the dinner was inaccurately recorded as hospitality, asserting it was merely a gathering among friends and that no ongoing legal matters were discussed.
Before his tenure in government, Hermer successfully represented Leigh Day in a civil claim against the MoD in 2017, which awarded substantial damages to several Iraqi civilians who alleged mistreatment by British soldiers. Additionally, he acted on behalf of Afghan civilians who claimed that the SAS unlawfully killed family members during nighttime raids in Helmand province between 2011 and 2012. These allegations are now the subject of an independent public inquiry.
Labour MP Graham Stringer, a former junior minister under Tony Blair, remarked, “It seems completely inappropriate for any Attorney General to have dinner with someone actively suing the government.” A senior barrister and former Conservative Justice Minister, who opted to remain anonymous for professional reasons, echoed this sentiment, commenting, “It looks terrible.”
Leigh Day’s current case against the MoD alleges discrimination against thousands of younger and unmarried military personnel, who were reportedly charged higher rents for military housing compared to those over 37 or married, who can claim accommodation allowances. The law firm estimates that the total claim could impose a £50 million burden on taxpayers. In response, the MoD has defended its practices, stating, “The Defence Secretary has prioritized the provision of higher quality accommodation for service personnel.”
According to The i Paper, also present at the December dinner were Professor Sir Simon Wessely, a distinguished psychiatrist from King’s College, who established the King’s Centre for Military Health Research. Wessely, who was knighted for his contributions to military healthcare, served as an expert witness in a Leigh Day case against the MoD regarding alleged abuses by British soldiers in Iraq dating back to 2004. He characterized the dinner as “a long-postponed social meeting of friends,” clarifying that his previous expert witness work aimed to assist the court rather than serve the interests of the MoD or Leigh Day.
A spokesperson for Martyn Day emphasized that the dinner was a casual meeting among friends and not work-related. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office defended the necessity of legal professionals like Lord Hermer having extensive backgrounds, which may include previous involvement in various cases. This reflects the cornerstone principle of the legal system, wherein lawyers adhere to the cab-rank rule and do not associate their identities with the opinions of their clients.
Profile: Lord Hermer
Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, is recognized as a “close friend” of the Prime Minister, with their professional relationship tracing back to their time at Doughty Street chambers before entering the political arena. As a human rights lawyer, Hermer has represented a range of controversial figures, including convicted Islamic terrorist Rangzieb Ahmed.
Former Labour Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has praised him as “a top intellect and top lawyer,” while Lord Goldsmith, a former Attorney General under Blair, referred to Hermer as a “proper lawyer.” Throughout his career, Hermer has been vocal in his criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and has advocated for the UK to rejoin the EU—positions he has since had to distance himself from as a prominent legal authority.
Hermer has faced backlash for his past support of disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner, whose claims of war crimes by British soldiers were dismissed by the High Court, leading to an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Notably, Martyn Day stood alongside Shiner at a press conference in 2008, where they made serious allegations of torture and execution against British troops in Iraq, which were later dismissed as fabrications by a public inquiry. While Shiner was struck off in 2017, Day was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Close associates of Hermer have insisted that he holds the utmost respect for the armed forces and condemned Shiner’s behavior after the allegations were proven false. In a notable case in 2020, Hermer represented the human rights group Liberty in support of ‘jihadi bride’ Shamima Begum’s appeal against the loss of her citizenship, arguing that such a move was “draconian.” Additionally, in 2023, he represented five Sri Lankan asylum seekers who were granted a special deal to relocate to Britain from the Chagos Islands shortly after Labour assumed power.
Timeline: Lord Hermer’s Cases for Leigh Day
- 2013: The Mau Mau claims – Leigh Day sued the British government on behalf of 5,000 Kenyan nationals who suffered torture by colonial officers during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising, resulting in a £19.9 million settlement.
- 2014: War crimes in Iraq – The firm pursued a case against British soldiers accused of murdering and torturing Iraqi civilians. A subsequent public inquiry found no evidence supporting the most serious allegations, which were based on falsehoods. However, Leigh Day successfully represented several Iraqis in a civil case against the MoD for ill-treatment by British armed forces in 2017.
- 2014: Caribbean reparations – In a 2020 podcast, Lord Hermer revealed his advisory role with Leigh Day on a case advocating for reparations from the British Government to Caribbean nations around 2014.
- 2023: Afghanistan – Hermer was listed by Leigh Day solicitors as representing Afghanis alleging that UK Special Forces murdered family members in Afghanistan during operations in 2011 and 2012. These claims are currently under investigation by an independent statutory inquiry.
