"The government tabled what is known as a remedial order to remove the immunity clause after court challenges said it was incompatible with the European convention on human rights. Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the change would fulfil legal obligations while protecting veterans from vexatious prosecutions. Under the last government, they passed legislation which was struck down, leaving our veterans utterly exposed. We're putting in place proper measures to protect them, the prime minister said."
"Former SAS commanders accused Labour of leaving former soldiers vulnerable to harassment by money-hungry law firms in a legal cycle that could last decades. History will not judge this prime minister on how carefully he managed legacy law, they said in a letter published in the Daily Telegraph. It will judge whether he had the courage to close the chapter and let the country move on."
"The original Legacy Act which Northern Ireland parties and victims' groups called an affront to justice scrapped about 230 civil actions related to the Troubles. Under Labour's proposals, judges would have the power to revive the actions. The proposals would also lift the bar on new civil claims over Troubles cases."
The government tabled a remedial order to remove an immunity clause after courts found it incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. MPs will vote on reversing a Tory-era law that granted conditional immunity to those accused during the Troubles. The change would allow judges to revive around 230 scrapped civil actions and lift the bar on new civil claims. Military veteran groups and former SAS commanders warn the move could expose former soldiers to vexatious prosecutions and harassment by law firms. Ministers say the order restores the right to seek redress and aims to rebuild community trust while protecting veterans from unfair prosecutions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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