Special Forces associations unite in rare public intervention to condemn the Troubles Bill's 'green light' for veterans' persecution

Brigadier Ed Butler, president of the SAS Regimental Association, warned that 'losing SAS capabilities is a direct threat to national security'. The association branded the Bill 'incoherent, contradictory, imprecise and muddled' despite fresh amendments. The SBS and Special Reconnaissance associations said opponents would 'easily exploit its loopholes'. Generals Sir Peter Wall and Sir Nick Parker told ministers to 'stop pretending'.

Five SAS soldiers spent three years under suspicion of murder over a 2022 Syria raid.

Labour's Al Carns said the Bill 'deals the best possible hand to our adversaries'.

Sir Chris Bryant branded claims he was 'pandering' to Dublin 'conspiracy theories'.