Attorney General Lord Hermer is facing allegations of a significant conflict of interest after it emerged that he previously advised a jihadi figure now suing the British government in a human rights case. The revelation has sparked criticism from Conservative sources and raised questions about his impartiality as the government’s chief legal officer.

Before joining the government, Lord Hermer acted as legal counsel for Mahdi Al Harati, a Libyan military commander who played a role in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi and later led a jihadi faction fighting against Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Al Harati is listed on international terrorism watchlists but has denied involvement in any terrorist activities.

Currently, Al Harati is pursuing High Court proceedings against the UK government. He alleges that British authorities shared intelligence labeling him as an Islamist extremist, which allegedly contributed to his subsequent detention and torture in Egypt. The government has denied these allegations.

The situation has drawn sharp criticism, including from Shadow Lord Chancellor Nick Timothy, who described Lord Hermer’s dual involvement in the matter as a conflict of interest. “He is a disgrace. As ever, you never know whose side he’s really on – Britain or our enemies,” Timothy said.

Lord Hermer has a history of controversial positions; he was previously accused of conducting a "witch hunt" against Iraq war veterans. In response to the current allegations, a spokesperson for Lord Hermer emphasized that he routinely recuses himself from cases involving former clients. The spokesperson also affirmed that the government employs a rigorous system to manage conflicts of interest.

The revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of the Attorney General’s conduct and raise broader concerns about the oversight of legal representation in sensitive national security cases.