Tory MPs tell Boris Johnson: Knock heads together to protect NI veterans

Former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who served in Northern Ireland as part of the Scots Guards, said many veterans he knows “live in fear” that they will have to deal with further claims despite believing it was “over, done and gone”.

Mark Francois, a former armed forces minister, added the prime minister must fulfil his “solemn promise” made in summer 2019 to defend those who defended the country.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer urged a “little more patience” from his Conservative colleagues and said the government is “closer now than we have ever been” on delivering on its pledge.

The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is making its way through Parliament and was developed in response to legal claims made after operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It does not cover incidents in Northern Ireland and separate legislation is required.

Speaking as MPs considered the Armed Forces Bill, Mr Francois said: “Some of these men have died and others are still dying with the sword of Damocles still hanging over them and their families.

“Unlike some others, our service veterans have no letters of comfort while the Northern Ireland Office – whose bill this is supposed to be – continues to endlessly drag their feet for fear of upsetting Sinn Fein. They’re making Handforth Parish Council look efficient.”

He added: “The prime minister urgently needs to knock heads together in Whitehall in order to get this critical legislation on to the statute book.

“All we’re asking is that the prime minister fulfils his public, solemn promise and thus defend those who defended us.”

Sir Iain earlier told the second reading debate: “I served there, back in that same time, and many of those that I know live in fear that they are going to be called for something which they thought was over, done and gone. When is that going to come in front of the House?”

Mr Mercer replied: “We are closer now than we have ever been to delivering on that promise.

“Those veterans are not left behind, I pay tribute to them for their service, and legislation will be coming in due course from the Northern Ireland Office.”

He also told the debate: “We’ve had 18 months since that election, that this challenge has existed for 40 years … and our predecessors have not dealt with it.

“It is unrealistic to expect the Northern Ireland Office and the prime minister to have delivered on this by now – but they have made that commitment.”

The bill is part of a process which occurs every five years to renew the Armed Forces Act 2006, which provides the legal basis for the existence of the armed forces.

It also incorporates the Armed Forces Covenant into law and creates a new Service Police Complaints Commissioner.

Labour hopes to amend the bill at a later stage to mandate ministers to disclose the number of battle-ready troops on an annual basis.