Troubles Bill returns to Commons as veterans dismiss Labour's amendments as 'window dressing'

From the Newshound archive · first published 12 October 2026 · last updated 13 October 2026.

Labour's revised Northern Ireland Troubles Bill came before the House of Commons on Tuesday, but angry veterans have dismissed the changes as superficial, warning that former soldiers now in their 70s and 80s remain vulnerable to politically motivated prosecutions under the rewritten law. Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC will gain a new veto over serious Troubles-related prosecutions, with her approval required before any such case can proceed. Inquests into events from decades past — at least eight of them — are still set to continue. Rolling Thunder, a veterans' group, plans to descend on Westminster within days to increase pressure on the government.

Former Blues and Royals Lance Corporal Paul Young accused Labour of using 'gimmicks' to deflect attention from the military community's core concerns without addressing them.

The bill removes 'on the run' comfort letters from nearly 200 former IRA members, making clear that these Blair-era documents cannot be used to prevent fresh prosecutions.

Northern Ireland Veterans' Commissioner David Johnstone cautioned that a 'fair and balanced' outcome is 'unlikely', even as he acknowledged the Attorney General oversight provision as a partial step forward.