Kemi Badenoch has apologised after footage from Bloody Sunday was used in social media posts criticising Labour's proposed legacy legislation in Northern Ireland. The Conservative leader said she did not sign off on the video, which was distributed by 'very young people' who did not recognise the footage.
The video, posted on Badenoch's social media channels on Tuesday, claimed Labour's changes would 'drag' British Troubles veterans back to court. Colum Eastwood, the SDLP MP for Foyle, said he was 'shocked' to see Badenoch 'trumpeting the service of British soldiers in Northern Ireland using footage from Bloody Sunday'.
Bloody Sunday, on 30 January 1972, saw members of the Parachute Regiment shoot 26 people during a civil rights march in Derry, killing 13. A 14th man died later. It is regarded as one of the worst mass shootings in Northern Ireland's history.
Badenoch, asked about the clip during a visit to a hairdresser in south-east London, said: 'I have apologised. I did not sign off the video. It was about a vote in parliament where Labour are putting in legislation that is hounding the very elderly veterans for things that happened decades ago... The video was done by very young people who did not recognise the footage as being from Bloody Sunday. It was removed as soon as the party understood.'
Labour's Northern Ireland Troubles bill aims to replace a law introduced by the previous Conservative government, which contained a clause enabling veterans to avoid prosecution if they provided information. That clause was ruled unlawful in 2024. Labour also wants to lift a ban on future inquests and civil actions halted by the previous legislation.
