This Bill will put an end to our veterans being hounded

All but one historical claim with the UK’S top defence prosecutor against British troops in the Iraq war has been dropped. I’ve said that this Government is going to war on “lawfare”, and I meant it.

At one stage, thousands of our finest people stood accused of war crimes. Today almost all of those cases have been dismissed for lack of evidence while the lawyer behind many allegations has been struck off.

Of course, I expect the highest standards of our people. The overwhelming majority serve with great distinction. As for the tiny minority who fall short, they should expect the full force of the law. The uniform is no hiding place. At the same time, no veteran should be hounded by repeated investigations many years after the event in question. Lawfare has blighted the lives of servicemen and women who gave their country the best years of their lives.

It has saddled the taxpayer with a bill in excess of £50million.

I’m also determined to stop the next generation suffering the same “vexatious” fate of my generation. Rightly overshadowed by Covid, on March 18 I introduced our Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. First, it creates a “presumption against prosecution” after five years. This raises the legal bar for prosecution significantly. It requires an assessment whether new and compelling evidence is presented and operational circumstances are taken into much higher consideration.

Second, it sets in law a time limit of six years on bringing claims against our personnel and this Government department – both civil and under the Human Rights Act.

Third, future governments will have a duty, enshrined in law, to consider derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights for future conflicts, giving British troops the confidence they deserve while on operations abroad.

This legislation is a first step. Northern Ireland veterans are entitled to equal treatment, too; I have secured that promise, and this Government will deliver on that in a separate bill in the very near future – I would not have brought forward my bill without that commitment. I can’t rewrite the past but we can create a better future in which lawyers no longer make a quick buck off the backs of veterans.