Stuart Anderson MP has blasted government plans to repeal and replace legislation which stopped vexatious claims being made against veterans who served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
It comes as the government pushes ahead with a Remedial Order to undo previous legislation which stopped vexatious claims against veterans.
The previous Conservative Government introduced the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act in 2023 to stop the prosecution of veterans who served in Northern Ireland.
The Act shut down all historical inquests, unless they were at the 'verdict' or 'determination stage.' It also prevented new inquests and offered conditional amnesty to suspects.
However, the Irish Government launched an inter-state legal case against the UK. It claimed that it had breached the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
This case has not been dropped yet and the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that dropping the case is only ‘on the agenda’.
When the General Election was called, the Conservative Government was appealing the decision. However, the incoming Labour Government chose to drop the Appeal.
Earlier this year, the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement was granted permission to intervene in the case before the Supreme Court.
On 15th October 2025, Lord Wolfson KC, acting for the Movement, did just that and made written and oral submissions that the Court is now considering.
Consequently, it is entirely possible that the declarations of incompatibility relied on by the Secretary of State to lay the Remedial Order will be quashed.
Under section 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Government has the authority to use a Remedial Order only unless and until all appeals in relation to declarations of incompatibility have been “determined or abandoned”.
Nonetheless, the Government has laid a Remedial Order to amend parts of the Legacy Act’ that granted immunity from prosecution for veterans in return for providing information about Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has confirmed that nine inquests stopped as a result of the Legacy Act would be restored if Labour’s new legislation is passed.
The Special Air Service Regimental Association has sent a letter to the Northern Ireland Secretary warning that the new legislation does not provide adequate safeguards for veterans.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that a new legacy deal with protect veterans and not paramilitaries. However, it remains unclear how this will work in practice.
Having served in Northern Ireland himself, Stuart has said that Labour's Plan will leave elderly veterans, who have already been cleared of wrongdoing, vulnerable to "lawfare."
Stuart has warned that the decision will reopen the door to endless investigations against veterans and undermine progress made in Northern Ireland's recovery.
Subsequently, Stuart has renewed his commitment to fellow veterans who served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. This includes Operation Banner, which took place between 1969 and 2007.
A petition against the legislation has already gained over 200,000 signatures, with 488 signatories from Stuart’s constituency of South Shropshire.
The petition urges the government not to make changes that would allow Northern Ireland veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty.
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart MP has said that test has not been met and added:
“If the Government decide to push ahead with their remedial order, not only will they be acting ultra vires, but they will be setting a terrible precedent that will mean that future Governments may use remedial orders in ways they were never intended to be used. To avoid that, all the Government need to do is commit to not pushing their remedial order to a vote until the Supreme Court has finally ruled.”
Meanwhile, nine Senior Generals have called the Bill a "direct threat to national security." In their letter, they state:
“Today every British soldier deployed must consider not only the enemy in front of them but the lawyer behind them… Make no mistake, our closest allies are watching uneasily, and our enemies will be rubbing their hands.”
In Parliament, Stuart Anderson MP said:
“On 12 November, I raised with the Prime Minister the alarming statement from nine former generals who attacked the Government’s approach on lawfare against our armed forces, which they said would erode trust in the justice system and is a threat to national security. Can the Secretary of State confirm whether the Prime Minister has met with those nine former generals and whether that has changed his approach to attacking veterans?”
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn responded:
"I do not accept the characterisation that the hon. Member puts before the House. The Government are not engaging in lawfare against veterans."
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Fellow veterans who served in Northern Ireland are being gravely failed by this Labour Government, as they are repealing the Legacy Act which we had introduced to protect elderly veterans from vexatious claims against them. Back in November, I urged the Prime Minister to heed calls from nine retired military generals that his plans would constitute a “direct threat to national security." It is greatly disappointing that he is pushing ahead with these reforms, despite the current legal uncertainty. After risking their lives to give us the freedom we cherish today, we owe our veterans a great debt and at the very least, our full protection. Our veterans deserve a gold standard of support and should not be subjected to malicious lawfare and prosecution. Labour's plan will not only harm those who risked their lives but undermine recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces today."
If returned to government, the Conservatives would legislate to restore full legal protections for veterans to protect those who have suffered from vexatious and repeated legal claims made against them.
