Iran: USA
The question
To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Attorney General has provided legal advice on granting permission to the United States to launch offensive military action against Iran from (a) Diego Garcia and (b) RAF Fairford.
Answered by Ellie Reeves
As you may know, the Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.
The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:
“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”
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