Sir Keir Starmer is the most distinguished barrister to occupy the premiership since H.H. Asquith more than a century ago. His legal career, however, has repeatedly bowled him difficult balls he has struggled to defend. The latest googly is that in 2007 he was leading counsel for an intervention to the House of Lords by a number of parties, including the Law Society of England and Wales and Liberty, seeking to re-examine the deaths of Iraqi civilians.

The submission bearing Starmer’s name argued that, ‘the duty of effective investigation has not been fulfilled… they were perfunctory, lacking independence and wholly inadequate. Any suggestion that they satisfied the requirements of Article 2 ECHR is unarguable.’

Starmer undertook the case pro bono, clearly thinking it of considerable legal and moral importance. His junior colleague was fellow Doughty Street Chambers occupant Richard Hermer, now Lord Hermer, Attorney General for England and Wales. They were assisted by Phil Shiner, a solicitor whose firm, Public Interest Lawyers, generated thousands of complaints against armed forces personnel. Shiner was struck off in 2017 and convicted of fraud in 2024.

Starmer undertook the case pro bono, clearly thinking it of considerable legal and moral importance

One of the soldiers accused was Sergeant Richie Catterall, serving with 1st Battalion, The King’s Regiment. During an arrest mission in Basra in November 2003, he had shot........

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