An unexpected U-turn on legislation that would have helped soldiers get away with torture has been hailed as a huge ‘victory’ by aThe Overseas Operations Bill, which enters its final stages in Parliament today, was drawn up to protect soldiers from ‘vexatious and repeated’ allegations of crimes.
Last night the Ministry of Justice conceded to the proposal, but human rights campaigners say there is still plenty of scope for soldiers avoiding accountability for a number of other offences.Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Robert Gallimore he really wasn’t expecting the U-turn and says he is ‘thrilled’ by the news.
Yesterday Number 10 confirmed the resignation of defence minister Johnny Mercer, who said he was ‘forced’ to quit because the Overseas Operations Bill does not protect soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. He added: ‘There’s an element of the Army that like what he says sometimes, but nearly all my serving friends and retired friends just can’t stand him.’While Mr Gallimore welcomes the government’s concession, he says legislation alone ‘won’t make an army behave on operations’.
The dad-of-three added: ‘In all units I served in, I actually never saw anything but the very highest of standards. We had horrific times when lots of things could have been justified.
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)
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Johnny Mercer: Tory MP resigns as defence ministerThe Tory MP criticises the scope of a law designed to protect veterans from unfounded prosecutions. BBCPolitics A pity. The biggest praise you can give the guy is the veterans respected him. DKennedy_UUP A man of principle has no place in this Tory government! Well done. I and many of my contemporaries are disgusted with the prosecution of ex military personnel. I am completely disillusioned with this Government’s decision. I doubt they will get my vote in future.
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Genocide and torture allegations excluded from new protections for overseas troops, in major U-turnIn a significant U-turn, the government has given in to demands for allegations of torture, genocide and crimes against humanity to be excluded from new protections for UK troops serving overseas.
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Defence minister Johnny Mercer on brink of resigningMercer ‘frustrated’ over progress relating to killings during Northern Ireland Troubles, saying government failed on pledge to prevent veterans’ prosecution Mercer needs to shit or get off the pot. Every club, society has someone always on the brink of resigning, running home with the ball, throwing their rattle out of the playpen. Usually they're just waiting to be praised to the hilt and begged to stay. Until the next time they don't get their own way... So he is quitting because they won’t allow soldiers accused of torture/murder etc to be immune from prosecution? Weird hill to die on but ok.
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Ministers ‘set to block prosecution of Northern Ireland veterans’The government is reportedly finalising plans to block the prosecution of British soldiers over their actions during the Troubles in Northern Ireland - moving towards a 'truth and reconciliation' model Sorry , murder is murder , no one should get away with it The problem is they will NEVER tell the truth, unless forced to by outside, independent, influential powers. They have spent decades blocking investigations into State murders.
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