Kemi Badenoch calls on Labour MPs to revolt over Starmer’s ‘vindictive’ Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
Kemi Badenoch has accused Keir Starmer of a ‘vindictive’ plan to pursue veterans through the courts ahead of Monday’s crucial vote.
The Conservative Party leader has told Labor MPs to join his party in opposing the Government’s Northern Ireland Issues Bill, which veterans have described as a betrayal.
The Daily Mail campaigned passionately to protect veterans who served during this period from vexatious prosecution.
One of the Labor Party’s first acts upon coming to power was to announce that it would repeal and replace the previous Conservative government’s conditional amnesty law. Writing for the Daily Mail, Ms Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of ‘stalking our veterans through the courts like criminals’.
He questioned why this was such a high priority when ministers had not yet drawn up a plan to adequately fund defense over the next few years.
He said he hoped to force ‘another U-turn’, accusing Starmer of an ‘obsession with the law’ that led to the Chagos Islands’ attempted surrender.
He called on Labor MPs to ‘examine their conscience’ and vote with the Conservatives against the legislation returning to the House of Commons. His intervention came as it emerged the Armed Forces minister would miss today’s crucial vote to move the legislation to the next parliamentary session.
Al Carns, a former Royal Marine and serving reservist, will visit troops abroad on defense missions against Iran when MPs vote, The Sunday Times reported.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Ms Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of ‘stalking our veterans through the courts like criminals’
One of the Labor government’s first moves after taking office was to announce the repeal of the Conservative-era conditional amnesty law and promise to replace it with a new law.
That means the government’s most senior veteran will not be involved in discussions about the legislation, which veterans are fiercely opposed to. Mr Carns, who was a colonel and completed a tour of Northern Ireland in the 2000s, is expected to run for the leadership if Sir Keir is challenged or resigns.
The veterans community says the Labor Bill reopens the door to prosecuting older veterans for events that occurred decades ago.
The Tory legislation it replaced offered conditional immunity for conduct during the Troubles.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has pledged to take measures to protect veterans, including allowing veterans’ anonymity and providing protection in old age.
But veterans’ supporters say the law would allow vexatious prosecutions and are calling for cases to be reopened only if there is new, compelling evidence. Today’s vote will enable the Government to bring the legislation back to MPs and is vital to its survival.
A government source said Carns’ trip had been planned for a long time. They added that Veterans Minister Louise Sandher-Jones will sit next to Mr Benn in the front row.
