The Household Cavalry Regimental Association has issued a direct appeal to soldiers and veterans to oppose the government's controversial changes to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which would repeal and replace the Legacy Act introduced by the previous Conservative government. The association, representing members of the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards, has joined a cross-regimental campaign against the bill, arguing that it is unlawful in parts and fails to protect veterans.
Coordinated Emails Warn of Retrospective Investigations
In coordinated emails sent this month, the regimental associations—which rarely intervene in political matters—warned members that the bill before Parliament is “unfit for purpose and fails the very veterans it claims to protect.” One email stated: “Our soldiers who operated under the law of armed conflict are now retrospectively being investigated through the lens of the European Convention on Human Rights, a different legal standard.” It added that while no one suggests any service member who breached the Geneva Conventions or humanitarian law should not be held to account, they should not be investigated retrospectively under a different legal framework.
Widespread Backlash from Veterans and Commissioners
The proposals have sparked significant backlash, with a petition to block the move signed more than 200,000 times. Veterans’ Commissioners of Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland have all opposed the move, with one branding it “a continuation of the IRA’s struggle by other means.” The former Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Al Carns, addressed the Legacy Act in his resignation letter after quitting his role as Minister for the Armed Forces. On June 11, Carns said: “I have worked to fix the bill from the inside, but it remains unfit for purpose. It risks failing the very veterans it claims to protect. Men and women I served with, those I buried friends alongside, people who did their duty under conditions most individuals in Westminster will never have to imagine.”
Political Motives Alleged by Former Parachute Regiment Officer
A former lieutenant colonel in the Parachute Regiment, Simon Barry, branded the move as “a political act” designed to help the UK “cosy up” to the European Union. He said: “It is a political act and we’re coming to the conclusion that they want to cosy up to the Irish Republic, so the Irish Republic [will] help them cosy up to the EU. There’s no other earthly reason why you would want to do this, because it’s causing them a lot of trouble—a lot more trouble than I think they realised they were going to get.”
Government Defends the Troubles Bill
The UK government defended the bill, stating: “We owe an immense debt to the veterans who served with distinction in Northern Ireland. The Troubles Bill is a vital step in righting the wrongs of the flawed Legacy Act.” It added that it had discussed with armed forces associations how historical issues can be “addressed in a way that treats those veterans who are asked to give information with the dignity that their service warrants.”
