Peter Kyle responds to Northern Ireland Legacy Bill being delayed

Peter Kyle MP, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,responding to the Government this morning confirming that the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Bill will not make it onto statute this side of recesss, said:

“As the Government has failed to ram through the legacy bill by July as they recklessly intended, Labour is urging them to reflect over the summer and shelve their plans.

“It’s time Rishi Sunak listened to Northern Ireland parties, all of whom oppose this bill that delivers more for terrorists than victims.

“If the Conservatives have given up being an honest broker, they should step aside so Labour can clean up the mess they’ve made and be the partner Northern Ireland deserves.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Lord Caine, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, speaking this morning (on BBC Radio Ulster from 1:49:30), said:
  
  “[The legislation] will come back in September, in about six or seven weeks’ time when we return after the summer.”
  
  
• In June, Cabinet Office minister Johnny Mercer MP said that the legislation would clear all its stages by the summer recess - RTÉ, June 2023