MPs are expected to express fury today with plans to push ahead with a new team to re-examine the conduct of troops during the Troubles.
They will discuss whether or not veterans who served in Northern Ireland should be given immunity.
The Commons debate follows the success of a petition urging the Government to excuse Northern Ireland veterans from historical criminal investigations.
![The debate comes as it emerged that the Prime Minister blocked a proposed law intended to protect Northern Ireland veterans. Two years earlier, she said at the 2016 Tory conference that ‘never again’ would the Government let ‘activist, Left-wing human rights lawyers harangue and harass’ the Armed Forces [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/20/01/13699950-7046905-image-m-84_1558313123070.jpg)
The debate comes as it emerged that the Prime Minister blocked a proposed law intended to protect Northern Ireland veterans. Two years earlier, she said at the 2016 Tory conference that ‘never again’ would the Government let ‘activist, Left-wing human rights lawyers harangue and harass’ the Armed Forces [File photo]
It was signed by more than 146,000 people. MPs are divided on how to deal with these so-called legacy issues, with one yesterday describing ‘spurious’ prosecutions of troops as a ‘cancer.’
The debate comes as it emerged that the Prime Minister blocked a proposed law intended to protect Northern Ireland veterans.
A private letter to the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Defence on Theresa May’s behalf reportedly said a consultation on Troubles legacy issues ‘should not contain’ reference to amnesties or a statute of limitations on the prosecution of former soldiers.
Sent in March 2018, it is the first indication that Mrs May personally blocked plans to scrap prosecutions for alleged crimes in Northern Ireland.
On Saturday, thousands of people protested across the UK at the prosecution of Northern Ireland veterans. Hundreds rallied at Broadcasting House in London, where veterans bore letters spelling out ‘betrayed’, while protesters wore T-shirts stating: ‘I stand with Soldier F’
Two years earlier, she said at the 2016 Tory conference that ‘never again’ would the Government let ‘activist, Left-wing human rights lawyers harangue and harass’ the Armed Forces.
The letter, leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, said that compared with other groups affected by the consultation, including terrorists, veterans should be given ‘equal, rather than preferential treatment’.
Tory MP and former soldier Johnny Mercer, said yesterday that equating troops ‘with those who got up in the morning specifically to murder innocent civilians turns my stomach’.
He said he would not support the Government until ‘some level of protection is brought in for Armed Forces personnel from the cancer of repeated and spurious prosecutions’.
A No10 source said the Government would not countenance a proposal to give terrorists amnesties.
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt and her predecessor Gavin Williamson, have backed amnesties for troops who served in Northern Ireland.
Last week, Mrs Mordaunt announced that veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere would be protected from historical prosecutions.
But troops who served in Northern Ireland are not included. Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley is planning an Historical Investigations Unit to re-examine 1,700 deaths.
A long-awaited consultation on the issue by the Northern Ireland Office is expected soon.
Parliamentary petitions signed by more than 100,000 are considered for debate by MPs.
![Last week, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt announced that veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere would be protected from historical prosecutions. But troops who served in Northern Ireland are not included. A file photo is pictured above [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/05/20/01/13641510-7047683-The_UN_Committee_Against_Torture_said_an_independent_public_inqu-a-38_1558312256720.jpg)
Last week, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt announced that veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere would be protected from historical prosecutions. But troops who served in Northern Ireland are not included. A file photo is pictured above [File photo]
A Government spokesman said criminal investigations were a matter for police and prosecutors, adding: ‘Where there is evidence of wrongdoing it is right that this should be investigated. We do not support amnesties or immunity from prosecution.’
Tory MP Mark Francois said MPs would reject ‘any rancid deal between the Northern Ireland office and Sinn Fein-IRA at the cost of our brave veterans’.
In March, prosecutors in Northern Ireland said a veteran known as Soldier F would be prosecuted for the alleged murder of two men on Bloody Sunday when, on January 30 1972, 13 people were killed during a march. A 14th died later.
Six other former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland are facing prosecution.
A Government spokesman said: ‘The Ministry of Defence have proposed legislation to provide stronger legal protections for serving and former personnel facing investigation over alleged historical offences.’
On Saturday, thousands of people protested across the UK at the prosecution of Northern Ireland veterans. Hundreds rallied at Broadcasting House in London, where veterans bore letters spelling out ‘betrayed’, while protesters wore T-shirts stating: ‘I stand with Soldier F.’