Starmer\u2019s Plan to Prosecute Northern Ireland Veterans on the Brink of Collapse <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tmdi-fullscreen<\/p>\n
Veterans minister Alistair Carns is expected<\/a> to resign over Starmer\u2019s plan to change the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 \u2013 scrapping all legal protections for veterans involved in Northern Ireland operations from 1969 to 2007. To add insult to injury, parts of the Act would also open the door for Gerry Adams and IRA suspects to claim taxpayer-funded compensation\u2026<\/p>\n Yesterday, hundreds of veterans stormed Parliament Square, protesting Labour\u2019s plans ahead of a critical debate in Westminster Hall. Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois told Guido:<\/p>\n \u201cThis Government sanctioned form of \u2018lawfare\u2019 is, self-evidently, a case of \u2018two-tier justice\u2019 at its worst, and that is why, on these benches we are utterly against it. Many of the soldiers who served bravely in Northern Ireland were recruited from so-called Red Wall seats, from Blackburn to Bury, and Bolton to Burnley, and served in proud regiments in Northern Ireland, to uphold the rule of law. Surely, the Secretary of State is not going to attempt to dragoon Labour MPs through the division lobbies, to vote to throw veterans to the wolves, whilst doing Gerry Adams a favour?\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Labour\u2019s veterans tsar David Johnstone is also on resignation<\/a> watch having blasted the \u201ctwo-tier justice\u201d as government insiders warn of a \u201chuge row brewing\u201d if Starmer pushes ahead with the plans.\u00a0Looks like the Labour leader is staring down another U-turn\u2026<\/p>\n