Keir Starmer’s record
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Sir Keir Starmer makes much of his time as director of public prosecutions (DPP), a post he is proud to have occupied before he entered Parliament. But before that elevated role, he was known more as a defence lawyer, especially in human rights cases. As we reported yesterday, among his high-profile clients was Abu Qatada, the Islamist preacher who fought tooth and nail to avoid being deported from the UK. Abu Qatada was represented by Sir Keir at a hearing in 2008.
Barristers operate by what is known as the “cab rank principle”, which means that, if they are approached by a solicitor with a brief in their field, they are obliged to accept it. Representing Abu Qatada or any other alleged enemy of the state does not mean that Sir Keir agrees with them. It is fundamental to our system of justice that any individual is deserving of a defence in a court of law.
Labour is accusing the Tories of desperate tactics by highlighting this aspect of Sir Keir’s past; but since he will be campaigning to become prime minister next year, we need to know about his background, as well as his views on issues such as human rights law. He may well have been required by custom and practice to take a brief when offered, but why did human rights solicitors like Birnberg Peirce go to him in the first place when there were plenty of other barristers available?
Sir Keir had a good reputation in the field, which is why he got the work. Why does Labour now say there is “nothing to see here”? Why so reticent about this part of his legal career as opposed to when he was DPP? The Labour leader was in Estonia yesterday visiting British troops. Next year he could be in No 10. We are entitled to know the answers to questions that arise from his past.
