Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ignited controversy with his appointment of Andy Slaughter, the Member of Parliament for Hammersmith, to the position of Solicitor General. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and a Labour Jewish group, who point to Slaughter's past meetings with Hamas officials alongside former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his statements regarding Israel.
Slaughter, who has represented Hammersmith for over two decades, will now be responsible for overseeing the Crown Prosecution Service's prosecutions for terrorism, hate crime, and anti-Semitism. His portfolio also includes providing legal advice on sanctions and arms sales.
The controversy stems from several past incidents. In 2010, Slaughter posed with Hamas officials, including Ahmad Attoun, Khaled Abu-Arafah, and Muhammad Totah, during a visit to the West Bank alongside Corbyn. This action was described as "shocking" at the time by Labour Friends of Israel. Further scrutiny arose in 2015 when, during a meeting on Palestine, Slaughter was alleged to have agreed with a proposition that Israel "fabricates and invents" reasons to attack Palestinians. Multiple Jewish organizations stated this risked "encouraging anti-Semitism in Britain." In 2021, the Campaign Against Antisemitism accused Slaughter of excusing anti-Jewish racism in Palestinian school textbooks. More recently, in 2024, he opposed legislation aimed at preventing public bodies from boycotting Israeli goods.
Fiona Sharpe, a spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, expressed concern over Slaughter's "long and troubling record." She stated, "With antisemitism at record levels in Britain and the Jewish community feeling increasingly under threat, we would want him to state clearly, now that he holds one of the government's most senior legal offices, that he no longer holds views of this kind."
Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis commented, "The Jewish community are right to be deeply concerned about the future of this country under this Prime Minister." Nick Timothy, the Conservatives' shadow Justice Secretary, called the appointment a "disgrace" and asserted that Slaughter "should have no place in government."
Earlier in July, shortly before becoming Prime Minister, Burnham himself apologized for Labour's past stance on Gaza, suggesting Sir Keir Starmer's government had "didn't get it right." He argued for increased pressure on the Israeli government, stating, "The UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach."
A spokesperson for the Attorney General's office defended Slaughter's appointment, insisting he "has been consistent in condemning the actions of Hamas and has long supported a two-state solution in which a viable Palestinian state and Israel can live in peace side by side."