Conservative MPs are preparing a final, urgent attempt to block the Labour government's controversial Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which they argue will effectively 'kneecap' the SAS and endanger national security.
What the Bill Proposes
The proposed legislation will overturn key legal protections introduced by the previous Conservative administration. It will end immunity from prosecution for both former and serving members of the Armed Forces concerning actions taken during the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, the Bill will resume controversial inquests into Troubles-related deaths, a process that has previously seen elderly veterans repeatedly summoned to court.
A 'Fighting With One Hand' Defence
Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge is set to confront ministers over the law when Parliament reconvenes. He has warned that the legislation will critically hamper the operational effectiveness of British Special Forces globally. "The prospect of being hauled before the courts means no one will want to sign up to the forces where they will be 'fighting with one hand behind their backs'," Mr Cartlidge stated.
A Conservative source was blunter, claiming the Bill would directly "kneecap the SAS". The proposals have ignited significant public anger, sparking a major campaign aimed at stopping the law's introduction, driven by fury over the treatment of former soldiers.
Backlash from Veterans and Generals
The backlash extends deep into the military community. A group of former SAS personnel have threatened legal action, asserting the plans will "wreck" the Armed Forces. In a powerful intervention, David Johnstone, the Labour-appointed Troubles commissioner, criticised the government's approach, stating that pursuing investigations into decades-old incidents treats service personnel "worse than terrorists". He described the Bill as "imbalanced" and claimed it was "eating at the very fabric of the Armed Forces".
This sentiment was echoed last November when nine top generals wrote an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, attacking the proposals and detailing the damage inflicted by what they termed "pernicious human rights laws" on military morale and capability. One defence source questioned how ministers who are themselves veterans could continue to support the legislation.
The stage is now set for a fierce parliamentary showdown, with the Conservatives determined to shield veterans from what they see as unjust persecution, while the Labour government seeks to implement its new framework for addressing historical deaths from the Troubles.
