Use of Bloody Sunday footage in now-deleted Kemi Badenoch video branded ‘disgusting’

A video posted online by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch containing footage from Bloody Sunday has been labeled “disgusting” and “disgraceful” by a Northern Irish MP.

The clip, shared on social media channels on Tuesday, formed part of his criticism of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Ms Badenoch’s speech was overlaid with archival material depicting British soldiers.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood specifically stated that at least one of these shots was taken on Bloody Sunday. The video was later removed from both X and Facebook.

On January 30, 1972, known as Bloody Sunday, 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead when members of the Army’s Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of ​​Londonderry.

In a statement, the SDLP MP said: “Frankly I am shocked that Kemi Badenoch has released a video describing the service of British soldiers in Northern Ireland using footage from Bloody Sunday.

“This is disgusting, disgraceful and an insult to the innocent civil rights protesters killed in Derry in January 1972.”

In the video, Ms Badenoch said the Labor Bill would “drag” Troubles veterans into court.

“This will leave older veterans facing new legal battles at the end of their lives,” he said.

Ms Badenoch said her party would “vote to block” the bill and that “the next Conservative government will repeal it” and posted a link to a petition to stop the bill.

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill was designed to repeal and replace the controversial Succession Act introduced by the previous Conservative government; This law ended the immunity scheme introduced under the law, which was ruled unlawful in the courts.

Mr Eastwood said the video was “all about putting the interests of British soldiers above the needs of victims and survivors who have had to fight against the power and might of the British state for decades, seeking truth, justice and accountability for their loved ones”.

In 2010, then Conservative prime minister David Cameron apologized to the families of civil rights marchers killed on Bloody Sunday after the Saville Inquiry found they were all innocent.

Mr Eastwood said: “We are a long way from former prime minister David Cameron’s strong apology for the actions of soldiers that day.”

The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.