Labour would repeal laws offering immunity to Troubles killers, Starmer vows

Sir Keir Starmer has said a Labour government would repeal planned laws offering immunity from prosecution for Troubles crimes in Northern Ireland.

The draft legislation would provide immunity for people accused of Troubles offences as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body, and would also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict. The proposed law changes are opposed by all Stormont's main parties and the Irish government, as well as victims' groups in the region, which have denounced it as an "amnesty" for killers.

The legislation was tabled amid calls from backbench Conservative MPs for an end to fresh prosecutions of military veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

The Government has defended the move, saying it will deliver better outcomes for victims seeking answers about how their loved ones died.

It says a "perfect solution" to legacy issues is not attainable and it is working towards the "best practical solution".

Some amendments have been made to the draft legislation during its parliamentary stages but the core elements remain in place.

Sir Keir, who previously worked in Belfast with police oversight body the Northern Ireland Policing Board, criticised the Bill on a visit to the city on Friday.

During a question and answer session at Queen's University, he was asked whether he would repeal the legislation if he became prime minister. "Yes," he replied, to applause from the audience.

"Let me just elaborate a little because obviously, having had the privilege of working here for five years with the Policing Board and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, I know first-hand and having spoken to many, many victims and victims' representatives, I know just how deep this goes for very obvious reasons. I think the legislation is wrong in principle. But, worse than that, or alongside that, no government in Westminster, in my view, should ever introduce legislation which has no support from any of the political parties in NI, and no support from the victims who are at the heart of this. We wouldn't do it and we'd repeal it if it's on the statute when we come into power."