Reform pledges to bar prosecutions of British soldiers

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 11:47 · Archive

Reform has pledged to prevent prosecutions of British soldiers without explicit Defence Secretary consent.

Reform UK has pledged to bar further prosecutions of British soldiers within 100 days of taking office, except with the explicit consent of the Defence Secretary. The party's newly appointed defence spokesman Angus MacIntyre said Reform would pardon veterans convicted for carrying out orders, terminate ongoing prosecutions and prevent further prosecutions of serving and former troops.

MacIntyre wrote that the party sees the treatment of veterans who have been prosecuted for doing their jobs as 'utterly disgraceful', and that ex-soldiers should not spend their retirement wondering whether the country they swore to defend will stand by them. The pledges come as Northern Ireland veterans face legal enquiries relating to incidents from decades ago.

However, senior military figures and veterans' campaigners questioned the feasibility of Reform's proposals. Former army intelligence officer Philip Ingram said he did not believe there was a legal mechanism to achieve what the party was promising. Veteran campaigner Paul Young said Reform's wording was problematic, arguing that the Defence Secretary is a politician rather than a legal person and that a Supreme Court judge should decide whether cases proceed based on new, compelling and extraordinary evidence.

How it is being reported

• Nigel Farage vows to pardon veterans dragged to court 'merely for doing their job'Reform UK has vowed to give British soldiers greater protection from prosecution, pledging to halt most criminal cases against serving and former troops unless the Defence Secretary gives explicit consent. The party's newly appointed Defence spokesman, Angus MacIntyre, said the party would, within 100 days of forming a Government, pardon veterans "convicted for simply carrying out orders, terminate ongoing prosecutions and bar further prosecutions of British soldiers." Laying out Reform's proposals, Mr MacIntyre told The Daily Mail: "We see the utterly disgraceful treatment of our veterans…GB News · 5 Nov, 11:12
• Reform vows to 'bar further prosecutions of British soldiers' within first 100 days of taking officeReform has pledged to rule out prosecutions of British soldiers - save for the 'explicit consent of the Defence Secretary' - as the party unveiled its armed forces spokesperson.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 23:59

In this story: Reform UK · Angus MacIntyre · Nigel Farage · Paul Young · Philip Ingram · Northern Ireland

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