The former defence minister Mark Francois has warned Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis he can expect calls for his resignation if he fails to introduce legislation to protect veterans who served in the province from prosecution before Westminster breaks up for Christmas.
Mr Lewis pledged in July that legislation would be introduced “by the end of the autumn” but Mr Francois is concerned that no Bill has been introduced that will protect veterans from prosecution.
Conservative MP Mr Francois said: “The Conservative Party promised to bring in legislation to end this iniquity in its 2017 General Election manifesto and again in 2019 – but still there is no Bill from the Northern Ireland Office. Our hapless Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, promised concerned Tory backbenchers we would see legislation by the summer recess in July 2021 – and then completely failed to deliver it.
“He then promised it would appear in Parliament ‘by the end of the autumn’ – yet we are now in December and still nothing.
“The House of Commons rises for the Christmas recess on Thursday, December 16, less than a fortnight from today. The future business has already been announced out to December 13, which now leaves a remaining three day ‘window’ at the end of the year.
“If, yet again, Brandon Lewis breaks his solemn word to the Commons he is likely to face growing calls to resign.”
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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