A former Armed Forces minister has warned that Labour's proposed Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would inadvertently benefit the IRA by placing the British state in a compromised legal position. Al Carns, who resigned from Sir Keir Starmer's government earlier this year, expressed his strong critique of the bill's current draft, suggesting it would enable Republicans to pursue legal action and compensation claims against former soldiers.
Carns, a former Special Forces officer, wrote in The Spectator that the bill, as it stands, "hands them what they want." He argued that the legislation breaks the symmetry established by the Good Friday Agreement, which he believes required equal sacrifices from all parties involved in the conflict. According to Carns, the bill disproportionately burdens soldiers while demanding too little from terrorists.
He emphasized that veterans are not seeking immunity from prosecution for their service in Northern Ireland. Instead, they want legislation that prevents terrorists from rewriting history and falsely portraying themselves as victims of violence. Carns called for amendments to the bill to provide greater protection for soldiers involved in incidents from decades past.
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, introduced by Labour, aims to replace the Conservative government's Legacy Act 2023. The previous act offered conditional immunity for those involved in Troubles-related offenses. Labour's bill, however, removes these protections and establishes an investigative body, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Retrieval, to review old cases. This commission would be a joint effort with the government of the Republic of Ireland.
The bill has progressed through its first and second readings in the House of Commons and is scheduled for committee stage in the autumn. However, political changes have occurred since its last parliamentary appearance, with Sir Chris Bryant now serving as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Louise Sandher-Jones succeeding Carns as Armed Forces Minister.
Former SAS Commanding Officer Richard Williams shared a grim outlook, stating his conviction that the country would eventually view veterans hounded by "despicable lawfare" much like World War One soldiers executed by firing squad, viewing them as loyal servants sacrificed by political expediency and moral blindness.
Government officials maintain that the prospective legislation will establish a fair and transparent system for victims' families to seek answers. They also claim the bill offers six new protections and safeguards for veterans, including not requiring them to attend legal hearings in Northern Ireland. The government asserts that the bill, along with reformed legacy commission arrangements and information sharing with Irish authorities, will uphold the spirit and promise of the Good Friday Agreement.