Unionists say Armed Forces minister's resignation backs up their concerns about Labour's Troubles Bill
Unionist politicians say the resignation of the UK armed forces minister over Labour plans for new laws dealing with the legacy of the Troubles backs up their criticism of the proposals.
Al Carns quit saying he had no faith in the process to replace the last government’s de facto amnesty for Troubles-era killings – warning proposed new laws are “unfit for purpose”.
The DUP leader says the fact he specifically cited the legislation as a reason for leaving office should be a wake-up call for the government – while the TUV boss says it highlights a “growing outrage” across the UK, and it’s time the Government listened.
UUP MLA Steve Aiken says the resignation highlights Labour’s obsession with “appeasing the Irish, as well as kowtowing to the cult of lawyers at the centre of our political process”.
The government says it has listened to veterans and “strong” protections already in the bill are to be strengthened further.
Gavin Robinson told the News Letter the reasons set out for Mr Carns’s resignation “echoes concerns the DUP has raised throughout this process”.
“Time after time, Ministers assured veterans that robust safeguards were in place. Yet Mr Carns has now publicly questioned whether the legislation provides the protections that were promised”, he said.
“There can be no moral equivalence between those who lawfully wore the uniform of the Crown and those who sought to destroy lives and undermine democracy through terrorism”, the DUP boss added.
Steve Aiken said his party has pointed out time and again “how deeply flawed and unfair Hilary Benn’s legacy bill is”.
“The naïve ‘certainty’ that the Irish Government is actually going to do anything to bring about an equal process on their side of the border, show’s that the Secretary of State is still wedded to his tunnel vision regardless of fact”, the UUP man said.
Jim Allister said that the former Labour minister’s claim that the Troubles Bill is creating a “hierarchy of truth” in NI is “absolutely right”.
“The fundamental flaw in Labour’s approach is that it seeks to rewrite the past through a process which disproportionately scrutinises those who defended democracy while allowing terrorists to continue peddling a false narrative in which they are somehow the victims.
“Al Carns also made clear that he does not want to see elderly veterans dragged repeatedly through the courts and that he fears history is being rewritten”, he said.