Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has stated that nothing will stop his and Her Majesty’s Government from passing legislation to ensure that no-one who served in the armed forces suffers “vexatious or unfair prosecution” for historic cases when no new evidence has been provided. Mr Johnson crated a new role in his government, the Minister for Veterans who is Plymouth Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, with curbing the prosecution of veterans over historic allegations.
Concerns among veterans have increased as a result of Stormont’s new power sharing deal which was truck last week. Boris Johnson says that the deal is an acceptable balance between supporting the British veterans of the NI conflict and giving victims a chance at justice. Boris Johnson told MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday that there is “nothing in the agreement, I want to reassure the House, will stop us from going ahead with legislation”.
The PM’s comments came after Labour’s Sarah Jones (Croydon Central) called on Mr Johnson to give a straight “yes or no, whether he now supports the investigation of every single outstanding claim”. Mr Johnson replied and appeared to leave no doubt :”We will go ahead and, as I said yesterday, I think there’s a good balance that’s been struck in getting Stormont going again, between those who need truth and those who need certainty and the protection of our armed services and nothing in the agreement, I want to reassure the House, will stop us from going ahead with legislation to make sure that no-one who served in our armed forces suffers unfair prosecution, vexatious or unfair prosecution for cases that happened many years ago where no new evidence has been provided. We will legislate to ensure that that cannot happen.”
UNN’s Oliver Down has attempted to make comment with Johnny Mercer regarding the former British soldier Dennis Hutchings who has recently pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a man with learning difficulties during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Mr Hutchings who is 78 is a former member of the Life Guards regiment. He is due to stand trial in Belfast in March in relation to the fatal shooting in 1974. Reports state that around 150 protesters gathered outside Plymouth Crown court to support Mr Hutchings. He appeared via video link streamed to the crown court in Belfast in September last year. Johnny Mercer has yet to respond to Oliver Down’s email, should this question change we will be sure to let you know.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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