Lord Hermer KC

Richard Hermer KC (Baron Hermer of Caerphilly) was appointed Attorney General in July 2024 when Starmer formed a Labour government. A human rights barrister at Matrix Chambers (the set Starmer co-founded), he built his practice around International humanitarian law and the European Court of Human Rights. After Iran struck Gulf States on 1 March, Starmer reversed course and authorised "specific and limited defensive operations" from Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford. Hermer's advice covered this narrower scope under collective self-defence.

Lord Hermer advised that the US-Israeli operation against Iran does not accord with international law, establishing that preemptive strikes require an "imminent threat" to Britain that Operation Epic Fury on 28 February did not meet. The advice shaped PM Starmer's initial refusal of US base access and continues to underpin the legal line between "defensive" and "offensive" operations from British territory.

Hermer's legal framework is now the foundation for both sides of the UK debate. The government cites it to justify limited defensive use; the opposition cites the same advice to argue the operation itself is unlawful. Chatham House argued the distinction "blurs the line between lawful self-defence and unlawful war on Iran." 58% of Britons oppose base access and Corbyn has tabled a bill requiring parliamentary approval.