Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of pursuing a 'vindictive' plan to prosecute veterans through the courts, ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote today. The Conservative leader urged Labour MPs to join her party in opposing the Government's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which former soldiers have branded a betrayal.
Background of the Bill
The Daily Mail has campaigned vigorously to protect veterans who served during the Troubles from vexatious prosecutions. One of Labour's first acts in government was to announce it would repeal and replace the previous Conservative government's legislation, which offered a conditional amnesty.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Mrs Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of 'hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals'. She questioned why this was such a high priority when ministers had yet to set out a plan to properly fund defence over the next few years.
Accusations of 'Lawfare'
Mrs Badenoch accused Sir Keir of having an 'obsession with lawfare', which she said had also prompted the attempted surrender of the Chagos Islands. She expressed hope that the Government would be forced into 'yet another U-turn' on the issue.
She called on Labour MPs to 'examine their consciences' and vote with the Tories against the legislation as it returns to the Commons. Her intervention came as it emerged that the Armed Forces minister would miss today's crucial vote to carry over the legislation to the next parliamentary session.
Minister's Absence
Al Carns, a former Royal Marine and serving reservist, will be overseas visiting troops on defensive missions against Iran when MPs vote, The Sunday Times reported. This means the Government's most senior veteran will be absent from the debate on legislation bitterly opposed by former soldiers.
Mr Carns, who was a colonel and completed a tour of Northern Ireland in the 2000s, is expected to stand for leader if Sir Keir is challenged or steps down.
Veterans' Concerns
The veterans' community says Labour's Bill reopens the door to prosecution of elderly former soldiers for events that happened decades ago. The Tory legislation it replaced offered conditional immunity for conduct during the Troubles.
Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has pledged to introduce measures to protect veterans, including allowing them anonymity and giving them protection in old age. However, veterans' supporters say the legislation will allow for vexatious prosecutions and have called for cases to be reopened only if there is new and compelling evidence.
Today's vote will enable the Government to bring the legislation back before MPs and is essential for its survival. A government source said Mr Carns's trip was long planned, and that veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones would be sitting alongside Mr Benn on the front bench.
