Today [7 October 2025] Shadow Defence Secretary, MP, announced that the
next Conservative Government will restore full legal protections
for veterans of Operation Banner against vexatious claims. It is
only by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR),
that we can deliver this will with confidence while remaining
fully compliant with the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC),
International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and the national laws
governing the conduct of the Armed Forces.
The announcement follows the Labour Government's repeal of the
Legacy Act—legislation introduced by the Conservatives in 2023 to
provide finality in relation to historic investigations arising
from the Troubles. Its repeal has once again exposed those who
served in Northern Ireland to repeated reinvestigation, creating
renewed uncertainty and distress for many former personnel and
their families. Even more worryingly, Labour has failed to
clarify whether their actions could open the door for figures
such as to pursue taxpayer-funded
compensation claims.
For veterans now in their later years, the risk of fresh legal
action after decades of service and scrutiny has reopened deep
anxiety. Families are again witnessing loved ones who once wore
the uniform with honour being treated as suspects rather than as
those who defended the United Kingdom in an extraordinarily
difficult operational environment.
The Conservatives are reaffirming their commitment to stand by
those who stood up for the United Kingdom, ensuring that no
veteran is left vulnerable to politically motivated prosecutions
decades after their service.
MP, Shadow Defence
Secretary, said:
“If new laws are required to give legal certainty on overseas
operations, we will pass those laws.
“If Labour repeal our Legacy Act, we will legislate to restore
full legal protection for our veterans.
“Whatever it takes, you have my word, we will protect those who
protected us.”
Paul Young, former soldier and Spokesman for the Northern
Ireland Veterans Movement said:
“The Labour government's repeal of the Legacy Act is viewed by
veterans as a betrayal.
“It reopens the door to legacy inquests and civil claims, placing
veterans back into a system they see as adversarial,
inconsistent, and weaponised against them.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
-
Over 200,000 people have signed a petition against
Labour's appalling plan to rip up protections for Northern
Ireland veterans introduced by Conservatives. Labour
is repealing key sections of the Conservative Government's
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act,
including the provisions on conditional amnesty and the ban on
inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents
(Parliament.uk, Petition, accessed 26 August 2025,
link; BBC
News, 5 December 2024, link).
-
Labour has failed to appoint a dedicated
veterans' minister that will sit around the Cabinet table,
weakening veterans' voices at the highest level in
Government. The Labour government has not
appointed a dedicated veterans' minister to
sit at the Cabinet table (Independent,
8 July 2024, link).
-
Veterans have put their lives on the line for this
country – but Labour do not know how many veterans could have
been forced into poverty as a result of the Winter Fuel Payment
cut. The MoD has said that ‘We currently do not have
the data to allow us to make such estimates' for the number of
veterans eligible for pension credit or who have incomes of
less than £12,500 a year (, Written Answer, UIN
16769, 3 December 2024, link).
