Veterans accuse Keir Starmer of praising soldiers in public while ‘knifing them in the back’ over the Troubles

British veterans accused Sir Keir Starmer of ‘stabbing them in the back’ over the Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill; this law would subject them to endless vexatious lawsuits.

There is ‘simmering anger’ in veteran community after Labor MPs vote Northern Ireland veterans’ protection withdrawal In January.

Under the plans announced by the government, former soldiers up to the age of 65 now face being recalled to fight against Russia.

War heroes who fought in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan told the Daily Mail they felt ‘robbed’ by Labor after risking their lives for a country they felt was no longer ‘worth fighting for’.

Patrick Mercer, 69, was a former colonel in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Regiment of Foresters and was stationed in Northern Ireland nine times before becoming MP for Newark from 2001 to 2014.

He said: ‘Veterans are expressing their anger openly. [Homeless former soldiers] They feel that the treatment of veterans is disgraceful and that people who do not serve, work or contribute are treated better than they are.

‘There is simmering anger that successive governments have mistreated the men who saved their governments.’

He claimed that the Labor Party was ‘unpatriotic’, which ‘deeply damaged the trust of the soldiers’, and added that the Prime Minister had a ‘vigilant sense of morality’.

He said: ‘The perverted hypocrisy of the government is the constant praise of soldiers… which sickens me.

‘The government’s repeal of Northern Ireland safeguards is designed to make life more difficult for frontline troops.’

Mr. Mercer concluded that ‘The petty officers [non-commissioned officers] and junior officers on operations will have to constantly look over their shoulders’.

A lieutenant colonel currently serving in the Armed Forces, whose troops could be sent to Ukraine if the British land there, has said he wants ‘official sanctions’ for a legal team.

This senior officer told Mr Mercer that he was also considering personally funding a legal team in case of deployment to Ukraine; but it is unclear whether the lawyers will represent him personally or his battalion.

Soldiers in major conflicts involving Britain in recent years have condemned successive governments for failing; But Labor’s backtrack on protecting Northern Ireland veterans from vexatious prosecutions has sparked strong criticism, with suggestions that soldiers from other wars, including Iraq and Afghanistan, could be treated in the same way.

The latest vote means protections set out in the Succession Bill introduced by the Conservative Party in the last parliament will be withdrawn, although all paramilitary prisoners will be released under the Good Friday Agreement.

Tim Balsom (51) is a former corporal of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and completed a tour in Iraq.

Tim Balsom, 51, (photo taken during tour in Iraq) says veterans don’t trust Labor

He told the Mail that Labour’s treatment of veterans was ‘disgusting and disgraceful but sadly not surprising’.

Mr Balsom described how there was a ‘lack of confidence in Labor’ among veterans over Northern Ireland and the Government’s plans to raise the recall age to 65: ‘We condemn the current Government for their treatment of veterans.

‘They would happily stab us in the back when we came back’ [from war]. The older members of the battalion are disgusted.’

Mr Balsom said veterans felt the Government had ‘antipathy towards us’, adding that he was concerned about being recalled to fight in Europe after serving in the Army for 13 years.

Ben McBean, 38, is a former Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan before suffering life-changing injuries from an IED explosion in which he lost an arm and a leg.

He said: ‘The truth is that when you leave the army you are on your own, you are not taken care of.

‘There are charities but not many of them help. You try to reach out for help, but there is no real signage. I had to pay for my own prosthesis.

‘When ministers talk about veterans it’s always about what they’re like on the streets… veterans are treated like dirt and most of them are dead [from suicide] or homeless.

Ben McBean, 38, lost an arm and leg after being blown up by an IED while serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan.

‘When I joined, the Marine Corps was prestigious and elite; but now when you tell people you want to join the army people laugh and say ‘why would you fight for this Government?’ they say.

‘The government treats us like dirt. When I fought 20 years ago Britain was different, the way we lived was different. We no longer live, we survive.

‘Politicians rob us, they never send their children to war. And when people are aware of how we’re treated, that we can’t save money, get a job, or get a mortgage, I wonder why people entertain the possibility of joining. [the military].

‘Is it worth it? I have PTSD and extra issues with my limbs. I have nothing to show for it. “This is a joke.”

Responding to the government’s announcement that the recall limit will be raised from 55 to 65 from next year, and fears that Britain’s sons and daughters will have to brace for a war in Europe, Mr McBean said: ‘I completely understand people who say ‘I don’t want to go to war’, but if we go to war someone needs it. I went to war, I did my part.

‘But now I’m against war if we don’t have to be involved. You are not taken care of, the country is not worth fighting for. But it wasn’t like this when I joined 20 years ago.

‘Our current situation is sad. I totally understand why people are upset. People had respect for the army, now most people almost laugh. Do you blame them?

‘Years ago I would encourage my children to join [if they wanted to]. Afghan was off to a great start when I joined. But now it’s all nonsense because you know how wrong things went when you came back.’

Mr McBean added that ‘there is no mental health support, you can’t afford the bills’ and ‘there are more and more cuts’ being made to the Armed Forces. He said he would not ‘encourage’ his children to join the military.

‘War is about maximum violence and I know if they can get hurt [there would be no support].’

Former Conservative veterans minister and Commando officer Johnny Mercer condemned the Government in a Facebook post last month, accusing Labor of taking the ‘final step to repeal veterans’ rights in the UK by resuming prosecutions of veterans serving in Northern Ireland, which I stopped because they were unfair, liars and chasing innocent people to their graves’.

He added: ‘I never expected another government to want to come in and support my agenda, it’s naive and unrealistic. But I didn’t expect them to systematically undo 10 years of work to improve veterans’ rights in the UK.’

Reform UK has vowed to end a scandal in which elderly British soldiers are being ‘dragged before the courts due to repeated and frustrating investigations’ while terrorists are ‘on the loose’.

Nigel Farage has said he plans to use the ‘royal prerogative of clemency’ to pardon convicted soldiers and end ongoing trials.

Reform MP Sarah Pochin said: ‘A Reform government will repeal this Troubles Act and ensure that no British veteran faces prosecution simply for following orders.’

A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: ‘We are committed to renewing the nation’s charter with those who serve and have served, and ensure no veteran is overlooked.

‘The figures have been announced’ [in January] It shows the government is spending record funding on veterans and mental health support is at a record high.

‘This includes investing more than £25 million each year in physical and mental health services for veterans, investing millions of pounds in employment and housing support, providing jobs and homes for our heroes, and addressing veterans’ concerns about fragmented support services through the new £50 million Valor programme.

‘Our commitment to our Northern Ireland veterans is unwavering. The previous government’s Inheritance Act was rejected by the courts and provided no real protection for veterans, leaving them in a legal wild west.

‘The new bill has six legal safeguards designed in consultation with veterans to make the legislation work for them.’

The Ministry of Defense said it was aware of the strong feelings of the defense community regarding the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, adding that it had held constructive meetings with veterans’ groups.

He said the Government was committed to ensuring veterans were treated fairly with the respect they deserve and that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill provided a balanced approach to addressing veteran issues while ensuring justice and reconciliation for everyone affected.

The Ministry of Defense added that it was aware of the impact historical investigations could have on those affected by them and that the welfare of Armed Forces personnel and veterans was of paramount importance.

The Cabinet Office did not respond to a request for comment.