Overview

• Ministers brought the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and a draft Remedial Order to the House of Commons, beginning repeal of the 2023 Legacy Act and stripping out its immunity provisions.
• The Bill would establish a reformed Legacy Commission with stronger governance, enhanced investigative and disclosure powers, and a statutory oversight board.
• A pilot Independent Commission for Information Retrieval would operate with Irish cooperation, with the Irish Government preparing reciprocal legislation and expected to consider withdrawing its interstate case once the new system is in law.
• Provisions permit part‑heard inquests to resume, send other halted cases for independent consideration by the Solicitor General, and bar new inquests beyond those already in the system.
• Veteran safeguards include a presumption for remote evidence, anonymity on request, limits on repeat investigations, and mandatory consideration of elderly witnesses’ health, as senior military figures and Tory politicians issue immediate warnings about morale and security.