Overview
- An open letter in The Times on Armistice Day warns that legal activism and the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill risk eroding morale, decision-making and the UK’s fighting edge.
- The former chiefs say expanding ECHR and Human Rights Act interpretations amount to “lawfare” and describe it as a direct threat to national security.
- They ask Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the attorney general to create a new framework that disapplies the ECHR and HRA for personnel on active service in the UK and overseas.
- The Ministry of Defence rejects the accusations, says the bill includes robust safeguards for veterans, and disputes claims of an exodus from special forces.
- Labour’s proposal would repeal the 2023 Legacy Act and establish a legacy commission plus a Garda Síochána-run unit to investigate historical allegations against UK forces and the IRA.