North-west Hampshire MP says local Army veterans concerned over Northern Ireland legislation
Kit Malthouse says it's the biggest issue he's dealing with
The MP for north-west Hampshire says the number one topic in his constituency postbag is Northern Ireland.
Many Army veterans live in the area which contains the Army air centre at Middle Wallop, British Army HQ and Salisbury plain military training area.
The Northern Ireland legacy bill is attempting to deal with the legacy of the period known as 'the troubles' with the families of victims wanting to know the truth about what happened and former soldiers wanting to ensure they don't face repeated investigations without proper safeguards.
The Labour Government has brought in a new bill to repeal and replace 2023 legacy legislation from the previous government.
North-west Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse said:
"My post bag is largely filled with concern about the legal pursuit of Northern Ireland veterans, and the legislation that the government's planning on putting through, that will mean that a number of elderly veterans will be waiting to see if they're going to be pursued. through the courts, for their service in Northern Ireland in the past, were doing our best to try and ameliorate that and try and deal with that, but of course, we don't have the numbers in the commons to change it. And that really is causing a lot of concern in the constituency. 

"We're making the argument in the commons, again and again and again, about the asymmetry of justice, that's taking place in Northern Ireland, and about the fact that these are people who put themselves on the front line, put their lives in danger to protect and serve the nation and the people of Northern Ireland. And the fact that they could be pursued decades later, in frankly, sometimes questionable circumstances, doesn't seem to us to be right. 
We'll keep making that argument, let's hope there are more and more labour MPs that come on side, so the government starts to think again. "
The new bill was introduced in October last year and looks to establish a new approach to investigating the period. The government say amendments to their bill will significantly reduce veterans facing repeat investigations.