Seven former senior officers warn of 'grim' Troubles Bill fall-out

Seven former military leaders have warned of a "grim" fallout from the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which they say could weaken UK special forces.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the former private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who served in the Special Air Service, was among the figures who warned peacetime human rights regimes "scapegoat the front line".

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will end an immunity scheme introduced in 2023 and restore some inquests related to the conflict during the late 20th Century.

But writing in the Telegraph, the seven former senior officers said: "In this Troubles Bill, the Government is complicit in this war on our armed forces."

They wrote: "Today, the frontline cuts through courts, media and Parliament as sharply as any trench.

"Special forces operate at the centre of this contest. They are not asking for immunity; they simply want fair procedures and decisive political leadership.

"They seek protection from legal ambiguity, not evasion of responsibility.

"No serious nation excuses soldierly crimes. Rigorous investigations and prosecutions, where warranted, underpin the moral authority to deploy lethal force.

"Accountability is no luxury - it binds allies, agents and partners to our cause."

The former officers also complained that "peacetime human rights regimes, shoehorned into battle, commit a category error".

Their letter continued: "They scapegoat the front line while politicians who willed the war claim clean hands - 'Tommy this and Tommy that'.

"The fallout is grim.

"Commanders turn risk averse, soldiers hesitate where boldness saves lives, wars drag on, spilling more blood and costing more lives."

Their letter ended: "A democracy that won't back its warriors won't long endure."

A Government spokesperson said: "This Government's commitment to our Northern Ireland veterans is unshakeable.

"The previous government's Legacy Act was ruled unlawful by the courts and delivered no real protections to veterans in legacy processes.

"The new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, and its associated elements, delivers six lawful and deliverable protections, designed in consultation with veterans so the legislation works for them.

"We are aware of the strength of feeling within the defence community on this topic.

"We have had constructive meetings with former senior officers, representatives of regimental associations, and the third sector to ensure their views and experiences are taken into consideration as this Bill progresses through Parliament."

The Bill faces further scrutiny in Parliament at a later date.