MP Mercer was right to uphold principles

GOOD on yer Johnny Mercer for sticking to your principles. Mr Johnson’s upcoming Overseas Operations Bill is to protect from prosecution our armed forces from spurious unfounded claims, which made lawyers a fortune at public expense. To not include veterans of the Northern Ireland troubles in this Bill is the worst betrayal of our dedicated forces and shows contempt for them in the greatest degree. After all, this was Boris’s solemn promise in bringing this Bill in the first place.

Tony Blair had every opportunity to put this right in the Good Friday Agreement. Convicted terrorists and non convicted terrorists were given immunity to walk the streets without any fear of prosecution, proof that Mr Blair was running scared of Sinn Fein and the IRA and settled for ‘Peace at any price’.

Boris Johnson should do the honourable thing and include Northern Ireland veterans in the forthcoming Bill and not hang them out to dry to appease Sinn Fein, as Tony Blair so shamefully did all those years ago. It’s hard enough to recruit the right calibre of service personnel at the best of times to do the ‘dirty work’. Remember these people are volunteers not conscripts. It would appear that the enemy is not just in front of them but behind them stabbing them in the back. Time for a rethink on this impending Bill or it’s nul points for you Boris.

As for Johnny Mercer, it’s refreshing to hear of a politician with principles at long last. If the two veterans in question are prosecuted as a result of this travesty, this will merely be the tip of a very large iceberg to follow. Time to draw a line under the Irish question once and for all. Do the right thing Boris before it’s too late. Johnny Mercer has shown us what an honourable person he is. Time for Boris to do the same or lose his credibility with many of his faithful.

Edward Kynaston

Lydney, Glos