Kemi Badenoch issues last-ditch plea to protect British veterans from Keir Starmer's 'obsession'

Kemi Badenoch has issued a last-ditch plea to Labour MPs to stop Sir Keir Starmer's controversial Troubles Bill in the Commons today.

Last night, the Tory leader confirmed her party would vote against any efforts to scrap immunity protections for Northern Ireland veterans - and secure "yet another U-turn" from Labour.

The protections were awarded under the previous Tory Government's Legacy Act.

But Sir Keir Starmer threw it out as it was "incompatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), because it "prevented potential rights violations from being properly investigated".

The new Troubles Bill was introduced to Parliament last year after Labour reached an agreement on a joint framework with the Irish Government.

It has long prompted warnings that Special Forces' ability to act rapidly and effectively would be neutered.

Mrs Badenoch has now written an impassioned plea for Sir Keir's MPs to "examine their consciences" and vote against his "obsession".

Today's vote will enable the Government to bring the legislation back before MPs after the King's Speech, and is essential for its survival.

"Hounding our veterans through the courts like criminals will make people think twice about joining our Armed Forces, just when we need to recruit more. Only the hard-of-thinking can’t see this," she wrote in the Mail.

"This is student politics at its worst.

"An obsession with righting what some see as the wrongs of the distant past, rather than doing anything about the real challenges currently facing Britain."

Last week, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn confirmed a "substantial package of amendments" would be made to protect veterans, including allowing them anonymity and giving them protection in old age.

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But veterans' supporters say the legislation will still allow for vexatious prosecutions and have called for cases to be reopened only if there is new and compelling evidence.

Meanwhile, Labour's most senior veteran MP will be absent from the Commons today.

Former Royal Marine Al Carns will be abroad visiting British troops in the Middle East, The Sunday Times revealed.

"Deep down he knows, and Labour MPs know, that Keir Starmer’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is bad and wrong," Mrs Badenoch said.

She also highlighted that both he and the Defence Secretary were "conveniently" absent the last time the Bill was put to MPs.

Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois told GB News last night: "Why should any Labour backbencher vote for it?

"Just to suck up to a Government that probably won't be there in a couple of months' time?"

He added: "It's two tier justice. Tony Blair gave hundreds of alleged terrorists so-called letters of comfort after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

"Our soldiers don't have any such letters... The reason they're in this position is because the Prime Minister and his Attorney General are human rights fanatics."

A Government spokesman said Mr Benn's amendments "will, among other things, clearly differentiate in law between the role played during the Troubles by our Armed Forces and the heinous actions of terrorists who were responsible for 90 per cent of Troubles killings."