I have set out the very questionable international law the UK government has prayed in aid for its monstrous give away of Chagos. The government failed to read the clear opt outs from International Court of Justice jurisdiction for defence and Commonwealth matters, and the opt out for defence from UN law of Sea.
Now we have the government inability to see that Iran is a constant and worrying threat to us, and particularly alarming that she might soon develop nuclear weapons. There is a good case in international law for US action.
What is angering so many of us is this further legal essay in two tier justice. Iran murders its own citizens, removes human rights from women, kills people in hospitals, attacks civilian targets abroad, funds and trains terrorist groups in several countries. So why does Starmer’s famous international law never stop them? What is the point of international law in these matters if Iran, Russia, China, North Korea and others break it when they choose?
International law is important to control people and goods moving across borders. Between sovereign states,affairs are controlled by International Treaty. If one of the parties breaks the Treaty there is no police force, army and prisons to enforce against the offending government.
The PM needs to ask the Attorney General to improve his legal advice and to fit it into international politics.The question to ask about the US action is not is it legal but will it work? It needs Iranian domestic regime change to make it a success.
March 2, 2026
……..and Iran has repeated.y taken our citizens hostage!
March 2, 2026
Plus they have funded and encouraged many terrorist attacks on the UK.
International law is indeed a “tyranny and folly”.
But then so often is the law in general. The absurd attempts by the DPP to invent and even appeal for a blasphemy law that of burning a book. Then we have Birmingham bankrupted by judges/ not markets deciding what work of equal value is thanks to Labours insane equalities act. An act actually added to by the Con-Socialists and not abolished. How are out RAF getting on without those useless white male pilots? Might it not be a better outcome all round if people are chosen on merit?
The total insanity of the new banter law (a vast attack on free speech and on business owners)!
March 2, 2026
I believe it is another Middle Eastern state, with which Britain is on very good terms, which has funded much terrorism…and madrassas…(and 911?).
March 2, 2026
If it is the one I am thinking of, we earlier sent Typhoons to defend it, in very good time before the war started. We have a treaty with them. International law, you see, so no difficulty about using force.
March 2, 2026
Agreed John. Add this to Sir John’s list of Iran’s faults in Para 3.
I remain perplexed why so many of the UK population support Palestinians and scream vitriol at Israel (who have been subject to repeat terrorist attacks and killings for decades) yet when these UK people are asked about Iran’s actions they see little to protest about.
March 2, 2026
The KGB really understood how to manipulate the Western mind. They invented the cult of
Palestinianism as part of the Cold War, and pushed it with the same vocabulary they used against South Africa and Rhodesia. This propaganda was in turn taken over and used to very successful effect by Iran and Qatar. The Israelis have been far too busy fighting on seven fronts to survive, to be able to develop and fight a counter propaganda war as well.
It is an indication of how very inferior are the minds in charge of education and higher education that this evil has been allowed to flourish.
March 2, 2026
The KGB discovered the Egyptian Yasser Arafat and reinvented him as a “Palestinian”. Along with the rest of the Egyptians who walked into Gaza to join in Jewish prosperity.
March 2, 2026
Before that, rebels described themselves as Arab Nationalists under the leadership of the Egyptian leader Nasser who wanted a single Arab state from Lebanon to Egypt. No mention of “Palestine.”
March 2, 2026
I don’t think the vodka-swilling KGB are that intelligent or hard-working!
As I get older, I think human beings are just too stupid (including myself) and lazy to be behind so many conspiracy theories.
We in the West aren’t that clever either. We might work harder but only for a reward (lolly / recognition). Not because of anything heroic (like trying to build a beautiful culture / civilisation unlike people in the past – or at least people in the past were a tad more heroic on this score I think).
March 2, 2026
I agree with your sentiments but many people wonder about whether the US and Israel have robust justification for the attacks. They remember how apparently vital it was to invade Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction, and see parallels today.
March 2, 2026
MPC – the contradiction and who are they to judge. The UN Council has enacted may resolutions against Iran stating that ‘the world’s collective judgement’ is that the country(Iran) posed a threat, the UN News reported this.
The UN stating that could be seen as the justification for moves by anyone against Iran
March 2, 2026
The Attorney General has made it clear he will do everything to embarrass the British government such as representing the IRA, chasing military personnel on spurious human rights charges. No doubt his fingerprints were all over the Gibraltar sellout. What next, the Falklands.
We must ask ourselves why has 2TK, the master of U turns chosen this particular hill to die on.
( words left out Ed) The whole thing is being driven by a small group of HR lawyers working forgot sides and it stinks.
March 2, 2026
@Ian Wragg – it is clear that ‘The Attorney General’ doesn’t work for the UK or its Parliament, he is there to support 2TK and his destruction mission. When will Parliament those that chose this anti-British cabal to run the country wake up!
March 2, 2026
The reason Starmer is wedded to international law is because it enables him to avoid making a decision with his name on it.
He comes rom a legal background and sees law as the only valid arbiter of issues and events.
His recent failure to engage with the ‘international’ community in condemning Iran for the most brutal clamp down on Iranian demonstrators wanting the most basic freedoms from the theocratic rulers/dictators there is a disgrace. It is then compounded by his failure to allow British bases to launch support activities for the Israeli/American strike to remove the Iranian dictator administration and its elite from their war mongering security.
When you listen to Starmer in his recent media/press statements not once did he name Israel when talking about ‘supporting our allies’ in the region, supporting their defence.
That is how mealy mouthed frit he is. He will not put himself forward as responsible for anything, always surrounding himself with group responsibility. He lacks personal capability and conviction and never speaks clearly about the most basic national issues he is failing on, let alone the international ones he does not even understand.
Just remember this. The last major foreign visit Starmer made was to court favour from China. The very same China that is sabre rattling in the Taiwan Straight and the same China that was just days away from supplying Iran with anti ship missiles hypersonic designed to overcome American ship defences.
That is the kind of regime Starmer considers preferable. Not allowing America use of UK bases at a critical time like this is unforgiveable.
March 2, 2026
Good Morning,
Law is a particularly apposite topic today; Consider:
The law of God is interpreted by theologians,
The Law of man is interpreted by lawyers.
When there is confliction between the two, we see today the outcome.
March 2, 2026
Usually interpreted by judges/lawyer in the interests of Lawyers rather than those of the users of the court system. Lawyers as a group tend to have many common views like the more litigation the better. Plus we have the use of paid for “experts” and end up with the absurd conviction of the two cot death person and the absurd 15 convictions of Lucy Letby. Let alone then deciding refuse collection is of equal value to office admin work or dinner “ladies”.
The idea of a single judge (who may have all sorts of personal biases, religious beliefs, political bias, history perhaps of burglary, mugging, sexual attacks in their family etc. deciding things alone is appalling. They will not and probably cannot in general put to one side their views!
March 2, 2026
The law of God is written in the heart. It’s called the conscience.
People may try to justify their evil actions on religious grounds, but in their heart they still know it’s wrong.
March 2, 2026
For good people to do very bad things religion and religious indoctrination (often of young children – child abuse?) so often helps.
March 2, 2026
Sometimes a law of commonsense is needed but how to frame that into rules to live by?
March 2, 2026
There is no way a Persian regime run by religious fanatics should have nuclear weapons. The question is, will bombing the leadership achieve the desired change of government?
Throughout history everyone has had trouble with the arrogance of the Persians. Alexander the Great had to conquer them. So did the Romans. So did we – indeed, British Petroleum (BP) was born to exploit Persian oil
The Americans and the Israelis limited their attack to Iran itself. What’s left of the regime has retaliated by launching missiles at any country that hosts American, French or British military bases.
Well, so be it. The war will be good for the price of gold and silver.
March 2, 2026
The Islamic regime holding Iranians hostage is Arabist, not Persian.
March 2, 2026
If it were the case one could wander why Iran and Iraq were at war during 1980-1988.
Moreover you even don’t use the word arabist properly.
March 3, 2026
Please use the word arabist correctly hefner.
We are waiting with our breath baited.
March 3, 2026
Shiite vs Sunni?
Very little more toxic than disagreements among the faithful. More so than between them and the faithless
See also Protestant v Catholic and Green v Labour
March 3, 2026
I didn’t mean arabist, Hefner. I meant Arabist. Look at the context. Why do you so often get the wrong end of the stick?
March 2, 2026
And Russian oil and gas share prices are up quite a bit, I see. Nice one, Donald.
March 2, 2026
US oil and gas prices up too. Nice one Donald.
And thank you.
March 2, 2026
I believe that by convention the legal advice the Attorney General gives the government is never disclosed ? If so this provides perfect cover for Hermer to promote his own views with no way they can be checked or challenged.
Reply It is not published in full but governments often have to state their case to try to persuade the public and of course at times have to defend their legal judgement in court
March 2, 2026
Surely international law outlaws nuclear proliferation? In the Liberal top trump interpretation of international law where does blowing up a country’s nuclear arsenal come in relation to being able to build one?
International law must come second to individual interest.
China and India pollute, Russia invades and Pakistan subjugates.
Where are the worthies protesting these events?
March 2, 2026
No. That’s treaties like START.
March 3, 2026
are treaties not law?
UN refugee convention?
March 2, 2026
There is no international democratic government, therefore there is no real international law.
Decent treatment of prisoners of war came about when Western countries, even though sometimes in conflict, accepted that prisoners of war should be treated with decency. Since then, we have some of the obvious evil people beheading prisoners of war, and with such adversaries we need to not be naïve.
A lot of international treaties would not stand if the respective populations had proper democratic control over what was agreed.
Even now we have bad deals like the badly named UK/India Trade deal which would never get signed if the British population had sight of the mass import of Indian national workers with massive tax perks to undercut locals which it entails.
As for international lawyers that are the uber apparatchiks, contributing nothing to net world good. Apparatchiks always look after each other, and think highly of themselves, they are a large part of the problems we face and not part of the solution.
And the way our ruling classes in Europe and the UK have socially engineered our population to have large segments which want to fight each other and the historic core population, is madness. The way they have had lots of mad negotiations with the rest of the world showing how wibbly wobbly and weak we are, its bad very bad.
March 2, 2026
The PM is a complete embarrassment to this country a very poor act with little ability to think and see the big picture
March 2, 2026
Yes, his latest fiasco was to refuse the Americans (annoying them) use of their bases on British territory and then for British armed forces to be attacked within hours by Iranians nevertheless. So he then does a half pivot to just allow Americans partial use of their bases. As Del Boy (of Only Fools and Horses) might have said ‘What a plonker’ he is.
March 2, 2026
You ask, Lord John, “What is the point of international law in these matters if Iran, Russia, China, North Korea and others break it when they choose?”
Surely there’s a country you missed out there. It’s been all over the news, you must have noticed. Or was it buried among the ‘others’?
March 2, 2026
I presume you mean Iran.
March 2, 2026
Clough,
Noticing is antiseptic.
March 3, 2026
where is the law that says you should import ( some people? Ed) that hate you, allow them to commit mass gang rape and murder, and pander to them. that’s the law Starmer as DPP and PM has been following.
March 2, 2026
It’s particularly annoying when watching guests on news programs insist that international law has priority over national concerns. To those on the left trying to support the PM in his quest to tie us into the effects of globalist organisations, both unelected and unrepresentative, this seems to be a religion to them.
I’ve given up trusting anything that comes out of the UN – their efforts have failed miserably to bring peace or to save children, yet they demand and spend far too much of our money for what they achieve.
International treaties are a tool of globalists to tie our hands, not for peace, but to take us ever more in the direction of a single world government – we should oppose this with all of our strength, especially while there is so much reckless insanity in the world.
March 2, 2026
The PM is not going to ask the Attorney General to review his opinion.
The simple truth is that the present opinion is the preferred opinion of both Starmer and Hermer.
Doughty Street Chambers and Matrix Chambers have a grievance agenda that does not foster right wing opinion or a national view.
March 2, 2026
@JayCee – or the centre ground of common decency and honesty. Marxism all the way
March 2, 2026
Lord Redwood
“The government failed to read the clear opt outs from International Court of Justice jurisdiction for defence and Commonwealth matters,”
I am not one to normally buy into conspiracy theories ( para deleted Ed)
We know we were misled on the electronic-spectrum thing (lied to), we know we were misled on consultation with the former Islanders (lied to). We know Mauritius has no legal claim to the Chagos Archipelago (lied to). Location and history wise it could have also been either the Maldives, the Seychelles that should have also been considered for the give-away they are closer. We know this giveaway is as all these things just a treaty, there is no such thing as International Law. As such treaties only exist all the while they suit both parties. We know if the Mauritius Government were to decide to close Diego García, give it to their friends elsewhere they could do so on the day after the formal exchange of treaties. The 99-year lease is a nonsense its non-existent. There is no International Law that could stop that happening. Endless lies to create a position doesn’t do well, or reflect well on the UK Parliament or the UK as a whole.
We also know that the UN is against displacing inhabitants from their lands, the Chagos Islanders are encamped on the Chagos Archipelago what International Law, Treaty will 2TK use to kick them off to implement this give away?
March 2, 2026
2TK says we will join the actions against Iran in a ‘defensive’ capacity. So is it defensive to bomb a missile launching site that is sending missiles into the British base in Cyprus? He can get his lawyer mates together to discuss it.
March 2, 2026
@miami.mode – if they smell money. The again there is the imposition that if any of our armed forces that engage with others on orders from Parliament and its Government, they can at a later date be charged with crimes.
March 2, 2026
Sir John you are labouring under the illusion that Starmer’s Gang is on the side of Britain, the west in general and democratic freedom. It is not. It hates all of these and Britain in particular. It is on the side of its allies, the Islamists. The Gang’s aims for Britain are entirely destructive, born of hatred. Trump has acted more strongly in the British national interest than Starmer’s Gang. Just imagine if Starmer’s Gang had a Democrat in the Whitehouse.
Gibraltar will be given away next and then the Falklands together with another enormous reparations package as in the case of Chagos.
There is no way we can get rid of Starmer’s Gang. As you know, the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 automatically dissolves parliament in 2029, removing all MPs, but leaves the government in office. Just imagine Starmer’s Gang in office and a total absence of scrutiny, let alone opposition, in parliament. Starmer’s Gang will not be able resist the temptation to postpone the expected general election and we will not be able to prevent him.
Reply There is no evidence to suppose Labour will try to prevent an election.Many in Parliament and people would demand one.
March 2, 2026
Parliaments, Governments and Countries have allies, associations with other Countries and their Parliaments, most cherish these and help one and other where they can. there is of course NATO but in essence that is an optional thing. Then there is the so-called ‘5-Eyes’ (Australia, Canada, UK, USA and New Zealand) its strength is comes from information gathering and sharing and a common heritage. Our TwoTierKier PM recently banned the UK from sharing security information with the USA, therefore cancellin ‘5-Eyes’. Seemingly because as he implies our security is with the EU and its common defence.
Beyond self-reliance a countries defence position relies on traditional like minded bond built up over a long period of time with like minded people. The WEF, the Fabian Society, and some fiction called International Law are not friends of the UK, as with the EU they don’t see the point of it (the UK).
Our disastrous Parliament is clearly seeking the break up and destruction of the UK’s traditional values and heritage as a way of shaping it in their very personal ideological image. When something is not broken why try to fix it unless you want to transform it to be something else – then still why?
March 2, 2026
This comment should be stand alone, not a response to @peter
March 2, 2026
@Reply – the fact that they have already tried to distort elections once is enough for anyone to come to that conclusion
March 2, 2026
The U.S.A. is doing us all a favour by taking steps to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons. It is surprising and concerning that we do not see greater co-operation from the UK government.
March 2, 2026
My setup is fighting me this morning
Parliaments, Governments and Countries have allies, associations with other Countries and their Parliaments, most cherish these and help one and other where they can. there is of course NATO but in essence that is an optional thing. Then there is the so-called ‘5-Eyes’ (Australia, Canada, UK, USA and New Zealand) its strength is comes from information gathering and sharing and a common heritage. Our TwoTierKier PM recently banned the UK from sharing security information with the USA, therefore cancellin ‘5-Eyes’. Seemingly because as he implies our security is with the EU and its common defence.
Beyond self-reliance a countries defence position relies on traditional like minded bond built up over a long period of time with like minded people. The WEF, the Fabian Society, and some fiction called International Law are not friends of the UK, as with the EU they don’t see the point of it (the UK).
Our disastrous Parliament is clearly seeking the break up and destruction of the UK’s traditional values and heritage as a way of shaping it in their very personal ideological image. When something is not broken why try to fix it unless you want to transform it to be something else – then still why?
March 2, 2026
Guido today
Trump ‘Very Disappointed’ in Starmer Over Iran, Slams ‘Very Woke’ Chagos Sellout
On Starmer’s refusal to allow bases to be used for strikes on Saturday: “That’s probably never happened between our countries before,
On the Chagos Deal: “a very woke thing… It would have been much better on the legal front if he just kept the ownership of the land and not given it to people that weren’t the rightful owners.”
https://order-order.com/2026/03/02/trump-very-disappointed-in-starmer-over-iran-slams-very-woke-chagos-sellout/
Keir Starmer PM, the man that believes in a two tier world, his and the rest. Has set out to drive a wedge between the UK and its long term allies so as to ensure he can bring the UK completely under the EU yoke. This is not about the country, the nation, the people it is about one man’s ego and his right to rule. He probably thinks he is the head-of-state
March 2, 2026
“The question to ask about the US action is not is it legal but will it work? It needs Iranian domestic regime change to make it a success.”
If your first open act is to launch attacks that kill dozens of schoolchildren while pretending to negotiate a peace deal, that might be tough. Particularly if the majority of the country’s people are ardent Shias.
The question of lawfulness should trouble Americans more than others. Has the President wrongly bypassed Congress, is Congress funtional, who governs the USA, is the Constitution dead etc? I have my ideas there, but that’s a matter for them. I also think the Iranians should be left alone to figure out their own affairs.
Incidentally, the assassinated ayatollah Khameni had issued a fatwah against the country developing nuclear weapons. I find it curious that those who want Iran to never have a nuclear weapon should call his assassination a triumph.
March 2, 2026
It is now reported that the attack on the school was in fact carried out by the IRGC as a dalse flag operation using their own missiles. They would have no compunction about doing that given the manner they have been slaughtering Iranians in recent weeks.
March 2, 2026
Has the late Supreme Leader issued a fatwas against the centrifuges used to enrich uranium sufficiently to enable the chain reaction of a nuclear bomb and witnessed by the Atomic Energy inspectors?
March 2, 2026
meanwhile with oil supply routes in jepordy that intellectual miliband is having our own oil wells capped and concreted over. somebody needs to stop that PDQ.
March 2, 2026
The US defence secretary has accused America’s traditional allies of “hand wringing” and “pearl clutching” over the use of force against Iran.
“Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force,” he said.
“America, regardless of what so-called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history.”
It comes after Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Sir Keir Starmer over his refusal to give the US permission to use British bases to launch their attacks on Iran.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/02/us-iran-war-latest-news-israel-strikes-lebanon/#1772457289809
The true state of play ‘so-called international institutions’ they have no mandates, they are not elected or accountable. They therefore as a contradiction to 2TK do not make Laws, International Laws, or any other Laws, it another lie promoted to stoke profit for what is fast becoming a political cult.
Mutual agreements, sets of understandings between parties are not at any stage Laws, and they only stand as long as both sides of the barging find it mutually acceptable.
March 2, 2026
“Gas prices rocketed at the fastest pace since the outbreak of the Ukraine war” how will that be spun by the NetZero Zealots?
The UK is sitting on gas, but instead imports it at a massive price to the consumer and the atmosphere. Other nations would gladly buy it.
It should be earning money, much needed money to fund the UK’s future. Even in simple terms chasing NetZero cant be achieved without vast amounts of money
March 2, 2026
2TK’s explicit actions in causing a rift with the USA is playing into his hands to be able to cause the UK to roll over and accept EU rule. Deliberate damage done purposefully because of his hate of the UK and its people.
March 3, 2026
Agreed. He is deliberately destroying our position as the USA’s premier ally as a means to justify making us an Associate Member of the EU in due course.
March 2, 2026
NO SIR: the Prime Minister does not need to ask anyone.In my lifetime I have enjoyed the benefits
of strong their majesties’ chief ministersWinston(2) Clem(stronger than he came across)Wilson(1st premiership)
and Thatcher.Back me or sack me springs readily to mind.Given the risks the western world faces(and the UK
vast domestic problems)I don’t ask for a dictator but simply a man or woman with backbone,spherical objects
and a cold and determined resolve to drag our country out of the mess we are in.
March 2, 2026
And the women weep for the death of the Ayatollah.. they should be rejoicing! I suppose we should view the female population of Iran as mass abuse of which they know no other and feel grounded in this way of life.It brings to mind a serialisation of a child whose family murdered her because of shame.The.mother accepted this and would not denounce her husband or other male members of the family.One male spoke out and said rather than murderers in their own country they would be considered heroes.
I agree with what you say and if the law doesn’t work .. change the law.
March 2, 2026
The IDF dropped over 2,000 bombs in 30 hours and achieved air superiority over Iranian airspace on Day One. Read that again. Air superiority over a nation of 88 million people with the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, accomplished before the second sunrise.
Iranian TV was hacked and Trumps speech was on the TV in every Persian home.
Rejoice!