Military chief vows backing for hounded UK veterans
As MPs launch campaign over new Ulster probe...
MPs last night launched a campaign to protect british military veterans as the outgoing head of the Armed Forces said he was ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with how some were being hounded.
A Tory MP, who served in iraq and Afghanistan, started a petition urging ministers to introduce a statute of limitations to ensure british servicemen are not prosecuted over historical conflicts.
A fierce Cabinet row broke out over the issue last month when ministers apparently back-tracked on a pledge to ensure UK veterans were protected legally from a new investigation into the Troubles in Northern ireland.
Leo docherty, who served with the Scots guards, said it was vital that veterans from the Troubles or from the Falklands conflict were not dragged through the courts over events decades ago.
‘if the bond of trust between the government and our Armed Forces – which is so critical to our national security – is to be maintained, our servicemen and women must know that the state is on their side,’ he said.
Yesterday, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach made a dramatic intervention on the issue, vowing that british veterans would be ‘properly supported’ by the military.
The daily Mail has long campaigned for an end to the witchhunt against british troops in a series of conflicts after hundreds were questioned about their actions in iraq more than a decade ago.
Sir Stuart, who was making his final public speech before stepping down as Chief of the defence Staff next week, spoke out after being asked if he thought there should be a statute of limitations.
‘That question as posed is a political decision,’ he told the Policy exchange think-tank in London. ‘My position as Chief of the defence Staff is very clear. We in the Ministry of defence will continue to support the veterans with legal and other support. That is an absolutely unequivocal clear position.
‘if you ask me as Stuart Peach, as i depart as Chief of the defence Staff, i am deeply uncomfortable about some of this as to the way in which it could be interpreted. i am uncomfortable with what is happening. it is for the government to decide things like a statute of limitations and how the law is understood and framed.
‘As Chief of defence Staff all i am allowed to do within my terms and conditions is to ensure – which i give you my word that we do ensure – that our veterans are properly supported if they are called forward for due process.’
He went on to say that he did not believe the Armed Forces should be ‘frightened’ of the law, adding: ‘i have the highest confidence in the discipline of the UK armed forces to abide by and follow the law.’
His comments mark the first time a serving forces chief has publicly slammed the ‘ witchhunt’ into british troops. They will pile further pressure on the government to implement legislation to stop british troops being investigated relentlessly for alleged incidents that occurred decades ago.
Mr docherty said a statute of limitations would protect veterans of conflicts in Northern ireland, the Falklands, the balkans, iraq, Afghanistan and all other overseas combat operations.
He said: ‘The government must act now to end the repeated and spurious prosecution of individuals who have served and will serve.’
His petition comes after the government omitted references to a statute of limitations for troops from a consultation document on dealing with ‘legacy issues’ from the Troubles.