Stuart Anderson MP has stepped up his campaign to support veterans who served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. This includes Operation Banner, which took place between 1969 and 2007.
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 12th November 2025, Stuart raised significant concerns about the Government's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
It follows a major intervention from nine retired four-star military generals, who have warned against the new legislation. In their open letter, they stated: "This lawfare is a direct threat to national security."
In The Times, the military generals wrote:
"By extending the same protections to those who enforced the law and those who defied it, the bill becomes morally incoherent. It treats those who upheld the peace and those who bombed and murdered in pursuit of political ends as equivalent actors in a shared tragedy. That is not reconciliation; it is abdication of responsibility... Today every deployed member of the British armed forces must consider not only the enemy in front but the lawyer behind. The fear that lawful actions may later be judged unlawful will paralyse decision-making, distort rules of engagement and deter initiative."
The legislation, which is awaiting its Second Reading in the House of Commons, would repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act that the Conservatives had introduced in 2023.
The original legislation was designed to stop the cycle of vexatious claims against troops who served in Northern Ireland.
The King's Speech of July 2024, which outlined Labour's programme for government, included plans to repeal the conditional immunity scheme.
The new legislation, which was introduced to Parliament on 14th October 2025, has been with fierce opposition by the UK's veteran community, which includes more than two million people.
Stuart launched his campaign in July 2025, when he criticised the plans in a Westminster Hall Debate that was triggered by a petition against the legislation gaining one hundred thousand signatures.
Before the petion closed on 9th November 2025, it had gained more than two hundred thousand signatures. This included 489 signatures from South Shropshire. The petition stated:
"We think that the Government should not make any changes to legislation that would allow Northern Ireland Veterans to be prosecuted for doing their duty in combating terrorism as part of 'Operation Banner'. (1969-2007)"
Stuart, who served for eighteen months in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, was still a teenager when he started his tour of duty.
Stuart has said that the new legislation would re-open the floodgates to a new wave of vexatious legal action against veterans.
He has vowed to continue the fight against the new legislation. The Conservative Party has pledged to restore full legal protection for veterans if returned to Government after the next General Election.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Stuart Anderson MP asked:
"On that point, with the upcoming vote on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, nine of the most respected and experienced generals of a generation have publicly attacked the government's approach on lawfare against our Armed Forces. They have said it will erode trust in the justice system and it is a threat to national security. As a veteran who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, does the Prime Minister think they're all wrong and when is he actually going to start standing up for our veterans?"
Sir Keir Starmer replied:
"May I begin by thanking him for his service to our country. When former service chiefs raise an issue, we will of course engage with them. I respect their service and their views and will do so. We are having to get rid of unlawful legislation and putting in place a system with clear rights and protections for veterans, and we will continue to try to get that balance right."
After his question, Stuart added:
"I was still a teenager when I started my tour of Northern Ireland. While I had little understanding of the political situation, I knew the rules of engagement and everybody on tour followed these. However, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill could put troops on trial, even after they have already been cleared of wrongdoing. Labour's plans are an egregious betrayal of trust that have rightly angered the veteran community, with nine former generals claiming it could paralyse decision-making and distort the rules of engagement. There is no equivalence between security forces and those who carried out acts of terrorism on the streets of Northern Ireland. So, I hope the Prime Minister will seriously reconsider these plans. In the meantime, I will continue to fight to see that our veterans are protected."
