Think about what it means to serve in the armed forces—placing one’s life in danger, protecting the country, witnessing comrades lose their lives—only to find that the present Attorney General, Lord Hermer, was in 2008 taking legal action against veterans who had served in Iraq.

Newly uncovered electronic communications reveal the extent of Lord Hermen’s association with the disgraced human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who received a conviction after admitting to dishonest and improper behaviour concerning unsubstantiated claims of mistreatment during the Iraq war. Shiner was given a criminal record in 2024 for submitting false allegations, accepting illegal payments, and acting inappropriately, resulting in a suspended prison sentence rather than immediate jail time.

Lord Hermer, a close associate of Keir Starmer whose government recently pushed through legislation permitting the prosecution of former service members, adds to the harm already suffered by military veterans. Once these measures became law, several SAS personnel have left or sought early discharge because of concerns about being prosecuted. The Labour Party’s opposition to seasoned soldiers is prompting an exodus of personnel from our elite fighting units.

We find ourselves in a perilous position. Current global events have demonstrated Britain’s exposed state after reductions carried out over years by both Conservative and Labour governments, leaving the country incapable of defending British interests and territories.

Councillor Nigel Dix,

Blackwood.