Keir Starmer appoints lawyer who represented Gerry Adams

Since becoming leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer has faced plenty of scrutiny about his career as a human rights lawyer – and in particular the more unpleasant individuals he represented during his time at the bar. Starmer has, for example, represented in court the preacher Abu Qatada in his battle to avoid being deported to Jordan.

For his part, Starmer has always defended himself by pointing out that he was simply doing the job of a lawyer – which is often representing people you don’t agree with. Still, you’d think the new PM would be keen to keep this particular row out of the spotlight. Starmer’s decision to appoint Richard Hermer KC as attorney general may just do the opposite though.

Only last year, Hermer was representing none other but Gerry Adams, in a claim brought against Adams and the Provisional IRA by victims of bombings in London and Manchester (Adams has consistently denied being a member of the IRA).