Labour AG Apologizes for Nazi Comparison in ECHR Row

Labour's Attorney General, Lord Richard Hermer, faced widespread backlash after comparing calls by Tory and Reform MPs to leave international treaties like the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to strategies used by Nazi Germany in the 1930s, referencing Nazi ideologist Carl Schmitt. Hermer made these remarks during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute, cautioning against prioritizing state power over international law. The analogy provoked criticism not only from Tory and Reform politicians but also from some Labour colleagues, who described the comparison as 'pathetic,' 'childish,' and 'appalling.' Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and others condemned Hermer's remarks as an offensive slur. In response to the uproar, Hermer expressed regret for his 'clumsy' language but affirmed his stance against abandoning international legal frameworks. The incident highlights ongoing divisions over the UK's relationship with international law and the ECHR.