'Labour's shameful betrayal of our Northern Ireland veterans'

Over 300,000 during the Troubles. For decades, under 'Operation Banner,' these troops were deployed to one of the most politically complex and dangerous theatres in modern British history. Over 760 British soldiers lost their lives, and more than 6,000 were wounded, many with life-changing injuries, inflicted by both Republican and so-called Loyalist terrorists. Bombings, shootings, and ambushes not only scarred the soldiers, but also the communities they were sent to protect.

Now, consider the reaction of those who served-including those still living with the physical and psychological scars of that conflict-to the news that the Government plans to repeal parts of the (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. Shockingly, these changes could enable figures like Gerry Adams to sue the British taxpayer under the guise of "upholding" the Human Rights Act.

This decision sends a chilling message to the veterans who risked their lives to uphold the rule of law during one of the most difficult chapters in our nation's history. It undermines their sacrifices and prioritises the interests of those who were, in many cases, their adversaries in that mission.

Adding insult to injury, the Government's actions reflect a growing detachment from the veterans' community. The perceived downgrading of the Veterans' Minister position to sit outside of Cabinet - even one as distinguished as the current officeholder-is deeply concerning. This move can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to diminish the voice of veterans, particularly those from at a time when their needs are being systematically ignored.

The implications extend far beyond historical arguments. The British Army is already facing a recruitment and retention crisis, and these actions risk deepening the sense of disillusionment among serving personnel. Soldiers may quite rightly question whether this Government of human rights lawyers truly "has their back."

Specifically, an order now going through Parliament, at the behest of the Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, would delete key parts of the Legacy Act 2023, which currently defends British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland from an endless cycle of investigation and re-investigation, often inspired by Sinn Fein.

Even more appallingly, the same order, which Labour MPs have already voted in favour of once, in a preliminary committee, but which Conservatives opposed, would delete key clauses in the act, which would enable Gerry Adams and some of his supporters, to sue the British taxpayer. Despite solemn pledges from Sir Keir Starmer, at Prime Minister's Questions, that he would seek to prevent such an outcome, the order, as drafted, still contains these outrageous provisions.

This is an obvious case of "two-tier justice": one for our Northern Ireland Veterans (many of whom were recruited from Northern towns in England, in what we would today call "Red Wall" constituencies) and another for the likes of Gerry Adams and his cronies. How any self-respecting Labour MP could possibly vote for this - when it comes before the Commons in a few months' time - and then still look their constituents in the eye defies belief.

The treatment of veterans in the context of Northern Ireland's troubled legacy is not merely a legal or historical matter-it is a litmus test for the Government's broader commitment to the Armed Forces. By prioritising the interests of human rights lawyers-and figures like Gerry Adams-the Government risks alienating those it relies on to defend the nation.

If Government still presses ahead with these very ill- advised changes, it must remember one simple truth: a nation that forgets the past sacrifices of its soldiers risks losing the trust of those who would serve in the future.

By Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois MP