Key Takeaways
- Andy Slaughter was appointed solicitor general (deputy attorney general) by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham shortly after Burnham took office.
- Resurfaced photographs from a November 2010 fact‑finding trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories show Slaughter alongside Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and several individuals later identified as Hamas representatives.
- The trip, sponsored by Friends of Al‑Aqsa and Middle East Monitor, included meetings with Hamas officials and focused on criticisms of Israel’s policies, including calls for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS).
- Slaughter has previously advocated negotiations with Hamas “without preconditions,” voted against the Labour Party’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and visited Gaza in March 2010 where he met Hamas’s justice and foreign‑minister officials.
- Critics, including shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, argue that Slaughter’s past associations render him unsuitable to oversee prosecutions of proscribed terrorist groups such as Hamas.
- The Attorney General’s Office defended the appointment, stating Slaughter has consistently condemned Hamas, supports a two‑state solution, and will act impartially.
- Under UK law, membership in or support for Hamas carries a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment; the solicitor general helps oversee decisions on proscribing terrorist organisations.
- The controversy echoes earlier criticism of Jeremy Corbyn for describing Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends,” highlighting ongoing concerns about Labour’s handling of antisemitism and extremist associations.
Background of the Appointment
Andy Slaughter was named solicitor general soon after Andy Burnham assumed the premiership, marking Burnham’s first major judicial appointment. As deputy attorney general, Slaughter provides legal counsel to the government, assists in overseeing major prosecution departments, and wields influence over decisions regarding the proscription of terrorist organisations. The role places him in a position where his judgment could directly affect whether groups like Hamas remain designated as terrorist entities under UK law.
The 2010 Fact‑Finding Trip
In November 2010, Slaughter joined then‑Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn on a sponsored visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The trip was organised by Friends of Al‑Aqsa and the pro‑Palestinian nonprofit Middle East Monitor (MEMO). According to MEMO’s internal report, the delegation met with Palestinian representatives from both Hamas and the rival Fatah party, although no meetings with Jewish Israelis were recorded during the four‑day itinerary.
Details of the Hamas Meeting
Photographs that resurfaced in late 2024 depict Slaughter and Corbyn standing alongside Mohammed Totah, Ahmed Attoun, and Khaled Abu‑Arafeh—individuals later linked to Hamas. Attoun was arrested and deported by Israeli authorities in 2011, while Totah and Abu‑Arafeh avoided detention for 18 months by staying inside an International Committee of the Red Cross compound in East Jerusalem before being apprehended. These images prompted accusations that Slaughter had shown sympathy for a proscribed terrorist group.
Slaughter’s Prior Statements and Votes
Beyond the 2010 visit, Slaughter’s record includes several positions that have drawn scrutiny. He travelled to Gaza in March 2010 with the Britain‑Palestine All‑Party Parliamentary Group, where he claimed to have met Hamas’s justice minister, Faraj al‑Ghoul, and deputy foreign minister Ahmed Yousef. Following that trip, he wrote a Guardian article arguing that negotiations with Hamas should occur “without preconditions.” In 2018, Slaughter was one of four Labour MPs who voted against the party’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a move critics said signalled leniency toward extremist rhetoric.
Government’s Defense of the Appointment
Responding to the backlash, the Attorney General’s Office issued a statement to The Telegraph asserting that Slaughter has consistently condemned Hamas, supports a two‑state solution, and will discharge his duties with political impartiality and strict adherence to the rule of law. The office emphasized that his personal views would not interfere with his legal responsibilities, and it declined to provide further comment from Slaughter himself, who did not respond to a request for comment.
Political Reactions
Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy condemned the appointment as “an absolute disgrace,” arguing that Slaughter’s alleged sympathy for Hamas disqualifies him from influencing proscription decisions and commanding the government’s legal department. Timothy asserted that placing Slaughter in such a role undermines public confidence in the UK’s commitment to combating terrorism. Other critics echoed these concerns, pointing to the potential conflict between Slaughter’s past associations and his new prosecutorial authority.
Broader Context: Burnham’s Stance
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s own remarks have intensified the debate. Earlier in July 2024, Burnham urged stronger pressure on Israel over its actions in Gaza, calling for a halt to weapons sales that could be used in the West Bank and Gaza and describing the humanitarian situation as “completely unacceptable.” His statements have alarmed Jewish organisations, which view them as part of a broader pattern of Labour’s heightened criticism of Israel—a narrative that intertwines with the controversy surrounding Slaughter’s appointment.
Historical Precedent with Corbyn
The controversy also recalls earlier criticism of Jeremy Corbyn, who in 2009 referred to Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends” during a parliamentary meeting and later expressed regret for the wording. Corbyn’s appearance alongside Slaughter in the 2010 photograph has been cited by opponents as evidence of a continuing Labour tendency to engage with extremist groups, despite official condemnations of terrorism.
Legal Implications of Hamas Proscription
Under UK legislation, the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad‑Din al‑Qassam Brigades, was declared a terrorist organisation in 2001, and the proscription was extended to the entire Hamas movement in November 2021. Membership in, or support for, Hamas is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment. As solicitor general, Slaughter participates in the legal advice that informs decisions about maintaining or revising such designations, making his personal history a matter of significant public interest.
Conclusion
The appointment of Andy Slaughter as solicitor general has reignited scrutiny over Labour’s historical ties to individuals and organisations associated with Hamas. While the government maintains that Slaughter will act impartially and has consistently condemned Hamas, critics argue that his past engagements—including documented meetings with Hamas officials, advocacy for unconditional negotiations, and votes against antisemitism definitions—render him unsuitable for a role that oversees the prosecution of proscribed terrorist groups. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between political advocacy, legal responsibility, and public perceptions of antisemitism and extremist sympathies within the UK’s leadership.