legal adviser

In December 2001, as a legal adviser to the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, I advised the criminal division that an FBI interrogation of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh without his lawyer would be unethical.

Lord Hermer, who is the government's chief legal adviser, also said he was "untroubled" by criticism of his work as a barrister before entering politics.

On Wednesday, James - who is the welsh government's most senior legal adviser and a MS herself - said the power was removed to avoid giving Welsh ministers powers that were outside the Senedd's control.

In his first broadcast interview, Lord Richard Hermer, who is the Cabinet's chief legal adviser, said that the government was determined to "lead on international law issues" globally.

John Bellinger, who was a legal adviser in the White House under President George W Bush, said: "Over the last several decades, Congress has acquiesced more and more in presidential uses of military force for a variety of purposes without congressional authorisation."