Starmer’s Plan to Prosecute Northern Ireland Veterans on the Brink of Collapse
Veterans minister Alistair Carns is expected to resign over Starmer’s plan to change the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 – scrapping all legal protections for veterans involved in Northern Ireland operations from 1969 to 2007. To add insult to injury, parts of the Act would also open the door for Gerry Adams and IRA suspects to claim taxpayer-funded compensation…
Yesterday, hundreds of veterans stormed Parliament Square, protesting Labour’s plans ahead of a critical debate in Westminster Hall. Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois told Guido:
“This Government sanctioned form of ‘lawfare’ is, self-evidently, a case of ‘two-tier justice’ at its worst, and that is why, on these benches we are utterly against it. Many of the soldiers who served bravely in Northern Ireland were recruited from so-called Red Wall seats, from Blackburn to Bury, and Bolton to Burnley, and served in proud regiments in Northern Ireland, to uphold the rule of law. Surely, the Secretary of State is not going to attempt to dragoon Labour MPs through the division lobbies, to vote to throw veterans to the wolves, whilst doing Gerry Adams a favour?”
Meanwhile, Labour’s veterans tsar David Johnstone is also on resignation watch having blasted the “two-tier justice” as government insiders warn of a “huge row brewing” if Starmer pushes ahead with the plans. Looks like the Labour leader is staring down another U-turn…
As Guido revealed last week three of the government’s own veterans commissioners wrote to Labour urging the changes to be scrapped. Richard Hermer won’t be happy…
