Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns has stated that Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers should not be characterized as the "villains" of the Northern Ireland conflict and should not face persecution for historical actions. Carns, a former Special Forces officer himself, resigned from his position in Sir Keir Starmer's government over defense spending and the party's proposed Troubles Bill.
The prospective legislation, if passed, would allow for troops to be subjected to legacy inquests and criminal investigations under the Human Rights Act, which was enacted years after the Troubles concluded. Carns, who previously supported the bill but has since reversed his stance, outlined his views in a foreword for a paper published by the Policy Exchange think-tank.
"Every use of lethal force by the SAS was investigated at the time, and those who served were subject to the law," Carns wrote. "Where genuinely new and compelling evidence emerges, it should be examined. What is unfair is to subject veterans to repeated investigations of the same events decades later simply because the process or legal standards have changed."
He emphasized that while no soldier should be above the law, neither should they face "endless legal jeopardy." Carns posited that "accountability is not the same as perpetual investigation. Justice is not served when the process itself becomes the punishment."
Veterans have expressed support for Carns' recent position, although some former senior officers have voiced skepticism due to his earlier endorsement of the legislation. The Daily Mail has reported on a campaign to protect SAS soldiers from what it describes as "witch hunts."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed that Labour's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is scheduled to return to the House of Commons in the autumn. This bill is intended to supersede the previous Conservative government's Legacy Act 2023, which offered conditional immunity for individuals involved in Troubles-related offenses.
Labour's proposed legislation removes these protections and establishes the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an investigative body tasked with determining if new evidence warrants the reopening of historical cases. The Troubles Bill has successfully passed its initial readings in the House of Commons and is proceeding to the Committee stage.
The treatment of veterans by the Labour party remains a contentious issue, with the Special Air Service Regiment Association reportedly threatening legal action if the interests of its members are not adequately addressed. According to the Northern Ireland Office, the proposed legislation aims to create a "fair and transparent system" for families seeking answers about unresolved cases. The government also asserts that the Troubles Bill provides veterans with six previously unavailable protections and safeguards, including the option to avoid attending legal hearings within Northern Ireland.
