Labour's top legal adviser has sparked fresh anger and calls for his removal by saying that adhering to international law 'goes absolutely to the heart' of the Prime Minister's foreign policy aims. Attorney General Richard Hermer said ministers were 'united' on the need to comply 'with all forms of law', saying it was vital to revitalising the UK on the world stage. It comes as questions swirl over the influence of the human rights lawyer on the Government headed by his old friend Sir Keir Starmer, with claims he is trying to set policy rather than provide advice. The Prime Minister is currently under pressure to beef up his administration's lukewarm support for the US strikes authorised by Donald Trump against nuclear targets in Iran. Critics warned that ministers had been left 'paralysed' over the issue after Lord Hermer advised that joining Israel's attacks on Iran, which began on June 13, would break international law, something that is disputed. Foreign Secretary David Lammy repeatedly refused to say on Monday that the strikes were the 'right thing to do' and told MPs the issue of British support was not a 'binary question'. Although Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden toughened up the Government's stance on Tuesday, Nato and Germany offered full-throated backing from the start. And Lord Hermer has been accused of a major role in 'surrendering' the Chagos Islands, the UK's last territory in the Indian Ocean, to adhere to a non-binding ruling by the International Court of Justice. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Lord Hermer should be sacked, saying: 'Attorneys general are legal advisers, not policy makers. 'Yesterday, the Foreign Secretary couldn't answer basic questions, but Lord Hermer is waxing lyrical well beyond his brief. The attorney is not there to run foreign policy or call people Nazis. His position is untenable.' Speaking to the BBC before the latest Middle East conflict, Lord Hermer said: 'Is international law important to this Government and to this Prime Minister? Of course it is. 'It's important in and of itself, but it's also important because it goes absolutely to the heart of what we're trying to achieve, which is to make life better for people in this country. 'And so I am absolutely convinced, and I think the Government is completely united on this, that actually by ensuring that we are complying with all forms of law – domestic law and international law – we serve the national interest.' He added: 'No one wants to do deals with people they don't trust. No one wants to sign international agreements with a country that's got a government that's saying, well, "We may comply with it, we may not". 'We do. We succeed. We secure those trade deals, which are essential for making people's lives better in this country. 'We secure deals on migration with France, with Germany, with Iraq, that are going to deal with some of the other fundamental problems that we face, and we can do that because we comply, and we're seen to comply and indeed lead on international law issues. 'Being a good faith player in international law is overwhelmingly in the national interests of this country.