UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Attorney General Lord Hermer apologised for comparing Tory and Reform calls to quit the ECHR with 1930s Nazi Germany, calling his remarks “clumsy.”
As reported by The Telegraph, Attorney General Lord Hermer expressed regret over comparing Conservative and Reform demands to withdraw from the ECHR to ideologies of Nazi-era Germany.
What did Lord Hermer’s spokesman say about the Nazi remark?
On Friday, a spokesman for Lord Hermer stated,
“The Attorney General gave a speech defending international law, which underpins our security, protects against threats from aggressive states like Russia and helps tackle organised immigration crime.”
He added,
“He rejects the characterisation of his speech by the Conservatives. He acknowledges, though, that his choice of words was clumsy and regrets having used this reference.”
What sparked outrage over Lord Hermer’s remarks?
At a RUSI defence forum on May 29, Lord Hermer said recent calls to abandon global treaties echoed views held by German legal theorists in the 1930s, who favoured state dominance over human rights.
The remarks triggered a strong backlash from senior Tories and Reform UK MPs, who condemned them as disgraceful.
How did Lord Hermer compare the UK’s foreign policy to 1930s Germany?
Speaking to senior defence specialists, Lord Hermer described Labour’s foreign policy of progressive realism as a clear
“rejection of the siren song that can sadly now be heard in the Palace of Westminster, not to mention the press, that Britain abandons the constraints of international law in favour of raw power.”
He stated,
“This is not a new song. The claim that international law is fine as far as it goes but can be put aside when the conditions change is a claim that was made in the early 1930s by ‘realist’ jurists in Germany, most notably Carl Schmitt, whose central thesis was, in essence, the claim that state power is all that counts, not law.”
Mr Hermer added,
“Because of the experience of what followed 1933, far-sighted individuals rebuilt and transformed the institutions of international law, as well as internal constitutional law.”
What did Catherine McKinnell say about Lord Hermer’s speech on international law?
Education Minister Catherine McKinnell said Lord Hermer’s remarks were made in a “quite thoughtful speech about international law” when asked about them in an interview.
She added,
“I think any discussion around withdrawing from the international stage just supports people and the agenda of people like Putin.”
What did Richard Tice say about Lord Hermer’s remarks?
The deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice, stated,
“Lord Hermer saying his words were clumsy is the understatement of the month, but at least he recognises that he was wrong.”
Who was Carl Schmitt?
Carl Schmitt is recognized as an authoritarian theorist. He strongly opposed parliamentary democracy and liberal political thought.
In 1933, Schmitt became a member of the Nazi Party. His theories on state dominance were cited as intellectual backing for the regime. He later lost standing in the party and was ousted from key positions.
Key facts about Nazi Party
- Nazi rule (1933–1945):
The Nazi Party ruled Germany for 12 years, from 1933 to 1945. They called it the “Thousand-Year Reich,” but it ended much sooner. - Population under control:
By 1940, Nazi Germany had taken over many areas. More than 109 million people were living under their rule. - Holocaust deaths:
Around 6 million Jewish people were killed by the Nazis. Another 5–6 million people were also murdered, including Roma (Gypsies), disabled people, Slavs, and those who spoke against the Nazis. - Jobs and economy:
In 1933, about 6 million people were jobless in Germany. The Nazi government created jobs by building roads like the Autobahn and preparing for war. By 1939, most people had work. - Military growth:
Germany’s army was very small after World War I—only 100,000 soldiers. By 1945, the Nazi military had over 18 million people. - Concentration camps:
The Nazis built more than 44,000 camps and ghettos. Many were death camps. At Auschwitz alone, 1.1 million people were killed. - Deaths from Nazi rule:
Because of Nazi actions – like genocide, attacks, and forced labour – about 20.9 million civilians (ordinary people) died.
