Prime Minister's pledge of 'no vexatious prosecutions for ex-Troubles soldiers' greeted with scepticism by veterans body
Sir Keir Starmer’s insistence that his Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will not lead to “vexatious” prosecutions of soldiers has been met with scepticism.
The SAS Regimental Association has reportedly said that his comments show he is either “poorly briefed or is determined to accept without question the Northern Ireland Office’s deeply flawed plan”, adding that “it behoves the PM to sit up and listen" to the bill's many detractors.
A commission to investigate Troubles-related killings is due to be set up under the government's proposals, which passed their second reading in the House of Commons last week in the face of Tory and Northern Irish unionist objections.
But the plans could face legal action from the SAS Regimental Association, which claimed the bill lacks protections for former armed service personnel who served during the Troubles.
The Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him to the G20 summit in South Africa that the legislation strikes the right balance.
He said: "I'm absolutely confident that there will be no vexatious prosecutions, and that is because the legislation carefully sets out the balance that must be struck, and particular protections for veterans who served, in terms of the approach, the process and the protections we have put in place for them.
"So I am absolutely clear that we have got the right balance in the legislation, and there will not be vexatious prosecutions."
In response to Sir Keir’s comments at the weekend, the Daily Express quoted the regimental association as saying: “The PM’s comments suggest that he has either been poorly briefed or is determined to accept without question the Northern Ireland Office’s deeply flawed plan.
"When so many highly experienced, well informed, shrewd and long-term observers conclude with one accord that, regardless of [Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn’s] assertions, the proposed legislation fails to protect veterans then it behoves the PM to sit up and listen.”
It added: “The first duty of government is the defence of the realm.
"It always has been so and, as the international landscape darkens, it always will be so.
"How then can our PM endorse a course of action that so obviously and profoundly damages Britain’s defences at a time when they must be strengthened?”
Sir Keir's administration aims to replace aspects of the old Conservative government's Legacy Act, which shut down all UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings in May last year, as well as inquests and civil cases.
It also included a contentious conditional offer of immunity for the perpetrators of Troubles crimes in exchange for co-operation with a truth recovery body.
Labour's new bill has been agreed as part of a deal with the Irish government, which will see it set up a new garda unit for dealing with Troubles cases, and provide co-operation to Northern Ireland-based bodies.
But as reported last week, the SAS Regimental Association has threatened legal action under the European Convention on Human Rights should the bill continue in its present form.