Labour MP Al Carns Plans Rebellion on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Labour's former defence minister Al Carns is preparing to rebel against the government over the controversial Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, potentially defying party leader Andy Burnham.

Carns, a former Royal Marine, has tabled an amendment to the legislation that would transfer all current inquests to the new Legacy Commission, a body established to investigate deaths during the Troubles and provide answers for victims' families. The current government proposal would maintain these inquests while directing only new cases to the commission.

He stated that his proposed change would offer a more 'balanced and proportionate' approach to addressing Troubles-related issues and save taxpayers a significant amount of money. Carns cited estimates that individual inquests can cost between £20 million and £200 million, suggesting they are also 'open to political persuasion' and can place undue pressure on veterans.

This amendment comes as the Bill returns to the House of Commons for further scrutiny. It had begun its examination in the previous parliamentary session but did not complete all its legislative stages before that session ended in April. MPs voted on Tuesday night to continue the Bill's progress in the current session. If Carns' amendment is not accepted by the government, it could lead to a vote when the Bill is debated.

The Bill aims to overhaul the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, originally introduced by the previous Conservative administration. Labour pursued this action after the High Court in Belfast ruled that certain parts of the 2023 Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The former Conservative government was in the process of appealing that decision, but Labour dropped the appeal following the 2024 general election.

Carns had previously resigned from the government in June, citing a dispute over defence funding and his opposition to the Troubles Bill as reasons for his departure.

David Johnstone, the Northern Ireland veterans commissioner appointed by Labour last year, supports Carns' amendment, aiming to shield ex-soldiers from what he described as 'lawfare on steroids' due to the coronial system's potential for lengthy appeals.

Opposition MPs on Tuesday evening criticized the limited time allocated for reviewing the numerous amendments, including over 100 proposed by the government itself. Sir David Davis, a former Conservative minister, called for the government to 'drop this evil Bill and start again,' arguing it unfairly targeted the reputations of soldiers.

Opening the Commons debate, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant stated the Bill is necessary to ensure families who lost loved ones can receive answers about the past, asserting that understanding the past is crucial for building a strong future for Northern Ireland.

Government amendments include one that would grant the UK Attorney General the final decision on whether to proceed with Troubles-related prosecutions.