A Hampshire MP has suggested that the attorney general is an "ass" in the House of Commons.

Commons Leader Lucy Powell described Attorney General Lord Hermer as an “asset” to the government in response to questions raised by her tory counterpart Jesse Norman.

Tories have repeatedly criticised the appointment of Lord Hermer as the government’s top legal adviser, with Sir Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, suggesting Lord Hermer was an “ass”.

READ MORE: Julian Lewis says USA risks pre-WWII 'vacuum' in Europe

Sir Julian Lewis told the commons to a ripple of laughter and groans: “I shall try to avoid the temptation that when the leader of the house in her upbeat way describes the Attorney General as an ‘asset’ that we can all agree at least on the first syllable.”

Lord Hermer has faced questions about how his previous work – including representing former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams – could result in possible conflicts of interest in his government work.