Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictHaving promised the House in two statements since the Government were elected in July 2024 that I would bring forward proposals, I did so when the Government published the Bill on…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI agree with what the hon. Gentleman says and his characterisation of the immunity provisions in the legacy Act. Nick Pope, the chair of the Confederation of Service Charities,…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictAs I say, the legacy Act’s offer of immunity in return for statements that the legacy commission regarded as truthful and credible could have given immunity to terrorists. That is…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe Irish Government do not have a veto. I stood next to the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, and I made commitments on behalf of the British Government and he made commitments on behalf…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI am grateful to the hon. Member for referring to the Saville inquiry. That long-running inquiry finally brought some truth and justice, in the eyes of families of the 13 people…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictAll those families, including military families, are at the centre of what we seek to do. What are the Government trying to achieve? We are trying to create a legacy system that…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe trial of Soldier F concluded on 23 October with a not guilty verdict. The Ministry of Defence rightly provided him with legal and pastoral support. I and the Secretary of…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe legislation that the Government have put before the House will make no change at all to the basis on which decisions about any potential prosecutions are made. Indeed, that…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictWe all want Northern Ireland to be able to move on into a better age and a better future, but we have a responsibility to those families who are still searching for answers to put…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI would cite to the right hon. Gentleman the case of Mr John Downey, to whom I have referred in the House before. He received one of those letters, and as a result his trial for…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe hon. Gentleman will be aware of the protections that we have put into legislation following the discussions that we have had with veterans, which I referred to earlier. I join…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI share my hon. Friend’s concern about what happened as a result of the legacy Act, but I welcome that two of the cases she mentioned—the M62 coach bombing and Warrenpoint—are…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI have already expressed the Government’s thanks in my answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Alex Burghart), and I think those sentiments are felt right across the…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictIt is a fundamental principle of our legal system that we accept the verdicts of the courts, even if we may not agree with them. The hon. and learned Gentleman is a distinguished…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe letters of comfort—or the on-the-run letters, however one wishes to describe them—had their origin in the time after the Good Friday agreement, as the hon. Gentleman will be…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe protections were put in place for veterans after consulting veterans, and they are not unimportant: the ability to stay at home and give evidence; the protection from repeated…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI say to the hon. Member that the Saville inquiry report made for very sobering and distressing reading for all of us. Like many Members present, I was in the House to hear the…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThe legacy Act offered a false promise of immunity. It was found to be incompatible with our obligations, and it had no support in Northern Ireland. At some point, Opposition…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI am sure that my right hon. and hon. Friends who are Ministers in the Ministry of Defence will have heard what my hon. Friend has said. The protections in the legislation that…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictI agree with the hon. Member that 90% of those who were killed during the troubles were killed by paramilitary terrorists, which is why the vast majority of those who have been…03 Nov 2025