The legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland remains one of the most painful periods in our recent history. More than 3,500 people lost their lives, most of them civilians, and many families still do not know the full truth about what happened to their loved ones. Decades later, the effects are still felt.
It was against this backdrop that Parliament passed the Northern Ireland Troubles Act in 2023. Its aim was to bring structure to unresolved cases while protecting veterans from repeated investigations into events that took place many years ago. The intention was to draw a line under the past in a way that supports reconciliation, accountability and fairness.
The Government now plans to repeal parts of that Act. This is not a matter of party politics. It is about the duty we owe both to victims of the Troubles and to the men and women who served our country during some of the most dangerous years of the conflict. In my judgement this Bill does not meet those basic responsibilities.
Their argument is that the current legacy framework does not meet our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. I recognise the importance of the Convention. The United Kingdom helped to draft it, shaped by those who had witnessed the worst crimes of the 20th century and were determined to prevent torture, arbitrary killing and the abuse of power ever again.
However, the world of today is very different from the world of the 1950s. In recent years some interpretations of the Convention have become stretched and detached from the practical realities it was created to address. If the justification for this Bill rests on such a broad view of Convention compliance, the Government must also accept that removing the limited protections that existed risks creating new problems. Article 3 covers psychological suffering as well as physical harm, and this Bill will add further strain to veterans who have already lived with repeated investigations for decades.
It is also essential to remember the conditions in which our Armed Forces served. They were in Northern Ireland because Parliament asked them to be there. They carried out their duties under orders in an environment of constant danger from shootings, bomb attacks and sectarian intimidation. Here in Exmouth and Exeter East, many former Royal Marines who served during Operation Banner have told me of their fear that even after decades of scrutiny their lives could be disrupted again. Veterans of more recent operations in Afghanistan and Syria now worry that they too could face repeated investigations many years after their service.
Veterans accept that if they break the law they must face consequences. What they cannot accept is a system that leaves them exposed to endless reinvestigation when no new evidence exists. This Bill risks making that situation worse. It also lacks the support of any major party in Northern Ireland, which will only increase division and legal challenge.
Northern Ireland needs a legacy system that commands confidence, delivers answers for families and gives veterans finality. This Bill does not achieve that. Reconciliation cannot be forced. It must be built.