British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing a public firestorm after appointing Andy Slaughter as deputy attorney general, a role that puts him in charge of overseeing terror, hate crime, and antisemitism cases for the Crown Prosecution Service, while also providing legal advice on sanctions and arms sales.
2+The appointment has sparked outrage among opposition politicians and Jewish organizations over Slaughter’s record and past statements on Israel. In 2010, he was documented meeting with Hamas activists alongside Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to Judea and Samaria—a move condemned at the time by the group Labour Friends of Israel.
Over the years, Slaughter has been accused of agreeing with claims that Israel fabricates pretexts for attacks, justifying anti-Jewish content in ‘Palestinian’ textbooks in 2021, and opposing 2024 legislation against boycotts of Israeli products.
2+Jewish Community and Political Backlash
Fiona Sharpe, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, expressed concern over the appointment and called on Slaughter to explicitly declare he no longer holds these views, given rising antisemitism levels in Britain.
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, representing the Conservatives, called the appointment a “disgrace” and said Slaughter has no place in government. Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis warned that the Jewish community is right to worry about the country’s future under the current prime minister.
2+The public criticism comes shortly after Burnham himself apologized before his election as prime minister for his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of Gaza, admitting Britain was too slow in calling for a ceasefire. A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office responded that Slaughter has shown consistency in condemning Hamas and supporting a two-state solution for regional peace.