Government’s Own Advisers Slam Starmer for Prosecuting Northern Ireland Veterans – Guido Fawkes

EXC: Government’s Own Advisers Slam Starmer for Prosecuting Northern Ireland Veterans

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The three government-appointed Veterans Commissioners have issued a statement urging the government not to alter the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 in order to completely scrap legal protections for veterans who were involved in British Army operations in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007. They say:

“We think that the Government should not make any changes to legislation that would allow Northern Ireland Veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty in combating terrorism as part of ‘Operation Banner’ (1969–2007).”

This will come to a head on Monday when a wildly popular petition relating to the matter will be debated in Westminster Hall. The commissioners, for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales add:

“As Veterans Commissioners for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, we stand united in our firm support of the motion to be debated in Westminster on 14 July 2025… We are deeply concerned by the prospect of retrospective legal action being taken against veterans who were carrying out their lawful duties, often under immense pressure and threat. Inconsistent application of justice — particularly where it revisits incidents already thoroughly investigated — serves only to re-traumatise veterans and undermine public confidence.

They add:

“As Commissioners we have advocated strongly on behalf of veterans to the Minister for Veterans and People to ensure there are proper safeguards in place for all veterans, but particularly our most vulnerable veterans, who served to deliver peace and security to the communities of Northern Ireland. We urge the Government to resist any changes to legislation that would re-open legal uncertainty for veterans of Operation Banner. Any proposed changes must be measured, fair, and informed by the voices of veterans themselves — many of whom have already endured decades of scrutiny and hardship. This is not a call for immunity from the law, but for fairness under it. Veterans deserve clarity, finality, and respect for their service. We support this motion as a necessary reaffirmation of that principle.”

That puts Labour in an awkward spot. Richard Hermer did represent Gerry Adams in 2023 when he was being sued by victims of three IRA attacks…

Read their full statement below: