Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision to appoint Andy Slaughter MP as the UK's new Solicitor General has prompted criticism from opposition politicians over meetings Mr Slaughter held with Hamas representatives during parliamentary visits to the Palestinian territories in 2010.
Mr Slaughter was appointed Solicitor General on 21 July 2026, becoming one of the Government's senior Law Officers. The role includes supporting the Attorney General, overseeing aspects of the Crown Prosecution Service and helping uphold the rule of law.
The criticism relates to visits made by Mr Slaughter in 2010, during which he met representatives associated with both Hamas and Fatah as part of parliamentary fact-finding visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Contemporary reports also state that he argued at the time that dialogue with Hamas should take place without preconditions.
Following his appointment, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel MP criticised the decision in a post on social media, writing:
"Labour are incapable of being a serious government which would stand up for our values and our country. Today we learn that Labour's Solicitor General is a terrorist sympathiser who cosies up to Hamas."
The Attorney General's Office has rejected the criticism. In a statement reported by several news organisations, it said Mr Slaughter has consistently condemned Hamas, supports a two-state solution, and will carry out his responsibilities with political impartiality and in accordance with the rule of law.
There is no suggestion that Mr Slaughter has been accused of any criminal offence, and the criticism centres on his previous meetings with Hamas officials and comments he made about engagement with the organisation during visits more than fifteen years ago.
The appointment forms part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's wider ministerial reshuffle following his arrival in Downing Street. Mr Slaughter, who has represented Hammersmith and Chiswick since 2005, previously chaired the House of Commons Justice Committee before entering government.
View this post on X