Reform has vowed to halt prosecutions of British soldiers, allowing such cases only with the explicit consent of the Defence Secretary, as the party announces its new armed forces spokesperson.
Former RAF Wing Commander Angus MacIntyre will assume the role, with Reform aiming to address military issues in line with the Conservatives. The pledges come as Northern Ireland veterans face ongoing legal scrutiny over incidents that occurred decades ago.
The party argues that current legislation, including Labour's Troubles Bill, enables further inquests into incidents where British soldiers acted lawfully. MacIntyre stated in a publication that Reform intends to "provide our veterans with the support they require." He elaborated that "within 100 days we will pardon veterans convicted for simply carrying out orders, terminate ongoing prosecutions and bar further prosecutions of British soldiers – save for the explicit consent of the Defence Secretary."
He added, "We see the utterly disgraceful treatment of our veterans who have found themselves prosecuted merely for doing their jobs. Ex-soldiers should not spend their retirement wondering whether the very country they swore to defend will stand by them. We will have their backs."
However, Reform's proposed immunity measures have drawn skepticism from veterans. Paul Young, a former cavalryman and campaigner, urged MacIntyre and Reform leader Nigel Farage to reconsider the wording. Young stated, "We could not endorse those policies based on those wordings. The Defence Secretary is a politician rather than a legal person. We have advocated that a Supreme Court judge should decide whether cases proceed, based on the requirement for new, compelling and extraordinary evidence."
Young further noted that the Defence Secretary would likely rely on advice from the Attorney General, also a political appointee. He clarified that veterans have not called for pardons but for the prevention of repeated prosecutions without legal justification, emphasizing that "when someone has committed a crime they should be subjected to the appropriate processes."
Philip Ingram, a former army intelligence officer, echoed these concerns, suggesting, "Opposition parties promise lots. I don't believe there is a legal mechanism to achieve what they're promising."
MacIntyre, a veteran of Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, expressed his inability to witness service personnel feeling "undervalued, under-resourced and forgotten."
Reform is also proposing to reallocate funds from the UK's welfare budget to increase defense spending. The party plans to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defense by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035, aligning with targets set by both Labour and the Conservatives.
According to Reform, MacIntyre served for 40 years, joining the Army in 1986 and transferring to the RAF Regiment in 1999. His service also includes deployments to Iraq and a role with the United Nations in Somalia.