Sunak takes swipe at Starmer during PMQs
Rishi Sunak used Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to tear into Sir Keir Starmer over his previous professional connections with the extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Home Secretary James Cleverly announced the plan to add the group to the UK's list of proscribed terror organisations earlier this week, citing their "anti-Semitic" activity and their active promotion and encouragement of terrorism.
The ban is set to come in after followers of the group chanted "jihad" at a pro-Gaza rally.
However Sir Keir once defended Hizb ut-Tahrir in court, during his career as a prominent lawyer.
Speaking at PMQs, Rishi Sunak revealed his role in defending them, accusing the Labour leader of performing another infamous U-turn.
READ MORE Tory MPs mock Sir Keir Starmer for ‘Thatcherite’ comment at PMQs
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Rishi Sunak read from the terror group's own legal notes (Image: Parliament Live)
Mr Sunak told MPs: "This week he backed the Home Secretary banning the terrorist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, despite him personally using the European Court of Human Rights to try and stop them being banned.
"Don't take my word for it, Mr Speaker, the extremists' own press release said - and I quote - 'The HT legal team led by Keir Starmer QC'.
"Now I know he doesn't like talking about them because they've been a client, but when I see a group chanting 'Jihad' on our streets, I ban them.
"He invoices them!"
Mr Sunak told MPs: "This week he backed the Home Secretary banning the terrorist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, despite him personally using the European Court of Human Rights to try and stop them being banned".
"Don't take my word for it Mr Speaker, the extremists' own press release said - and I quote - 'The HT legal team led by Keir Starmer QC'.
"Now I know he doesn't like talking about them because they've been a client, but when I see a group chanting 'Jihad' on our streets, I ban them.
"He invoices them!"
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Tory Attack ad on Keir Starmer (Image: Conservative Party)
Following PMQs, the Tories released a brutal attack ad parodying the hit Netflix show about crooked lawyer Saul Goodman.
The slam dunk received rousing cheers from Tory MPs.
In 2008 Sir Keir advised the group, and led their legal time when they appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg with claims they were being "silenced".
The sect also said that Sir Keir's legal submission on their behalf highlighted that some group members "had had their assets confiscated or frozen, despite several being German or EU nationals”.
James Cleverly announced Hitb ut-Tahrir will be proscribed (Image: Getty)
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Germany imposed a ban on all activity ban Hizb ut-Tahrir, however membership of the group remained legal.
The group’s spokesman accused the German authorities of implementing policies of “harassment, arrest and intimidation against our members”.
They argued that they were a “non-violent political party”, though noted their aim is “the resumption of the Islamic way of life in the Muslim world via the Caliphate”.
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The appeal failed in 2012, and Sir Keir never represented the group in court.
In October the group held a protest for Hamas “heroes” outside the Egyptian and Turkish embassies.
The protest saw them chant for “jihad”, leading to outcry as the Met Police insisted no crimes had been committed.
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