Reform UK will legislate to stop the prosecution of British
veterans in the party's first 100 days in government, ending
current cases and prohibiting further proceedings against British
veterans for historical conduct.
The announcement was made by the party's new Shadow Armed Forces
Minister Angus MacIntyre who has pledged to resign if he does not
end the prosecutions of veterans in his first 100 days.
The move comes after Labour MPs passed the government's Northern
Ireland Troubles Bill, which could leave Northern Ireland
veterans facing years of legal proceedings.
Under the 100-day plan, Reform UK would end the double standard
of pardons for IRA terrorists and prosecutions for veterans. This
would ban further prosecutions of British soldiers who served
during the Troubles.
The legislation would require the Defence Secretary to certify
any future prosecutions of soldiers or veterans acting on orders
during operations, and introduce a 10-year time limit after the
incident to end ongoing uncertainty.
Reform UK Shadow Armed Forces Minister Angus MacIntyre
said:
State-backed lawfare against our veterans has become a serious
threat to Britain's ability to defend itself.
British soldiers risk life and limb to serve King and country, to
ensure that the British people can sleep soundly at night in the
knowledge that a highly trained professional force will, as
necessary, exercise proportionate violence on their behalf.
Reform UK will end this, giving our armed forces the certainty
they need to carry out their duties, and our veterans the peace
of mind they deserve.
That's why I will end the unjust prosecutions of our veterans in
my first 100 days in office, or I will resign.
This new statutory bar for prosecutions would only apply to
actions taken which were carried out on sanctioned operations
within the chain of command. Cases involving actions taken
outside of combat or in a civilian capacity would proceed in the
usual manner.
The announcement brings the total number of 100-day pledges from
the Reform UK frontbench to five. Reform UK's shadow cabinet has
already pledged to stop the small boat crossings, raise the
personal tax allowance to £15,000, cut £250 a year off energy
bills, and train more British doctors and nurses in the first 100
days of a Reform government.
