Benn rejects 'mirage' claim over Labour legacy plan

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn was responding to questions about Labour's plan for replacing the Troubles legacy act

The Northern Ireland secretary has defended "protections" for veterans in Labour's plan for replacing the Troubles legacy act after unionists claimed they were a "mirage".

Hilary Benn was responding to questions in the House of Commons a day after the government bill was introduced to parliament.

He told MPs there were several provisions which "apply exclusively and only to service personnel" as part of the new proposals.

But Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said the clauses Benn referred to "aren't protections for veterans - these are protections for everyone".

He said many of the provisions were "available already within the criminal justice system".

"It's a mirage," he added.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed the clauses Benn referred to were a "mirage"

Benn responded: "The only reason the protections and the clauses I've just read out are in the bill is because of the government's determination to treat our veterans fairly."

The bill which was introduced on Tuesday aims to implement a new framework agreed last month by the UK and Irish governments.

It seeks to address the legacy of the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.

Labour had promised to repeal and replace controversial laws brought in by the previous Conservative government, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to Troubles-era incidents.

Its new plan includes a legacy commission, a dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána (Irish police) and a package of protections for veterans.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said the plans include protections for army veterans, but not paramilitaries.

TUV leader Jim Allister questioned the "alleged special provisions in relation to ex-servicemen"

In the Commons on Wednesday, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister questioned the provisions for veterans.

He said the secretary of state had "done much to talk up the alleged special provisions in relation to ex-servicemen".

"But legally isn't it the case that any such provisions would have to apply across the board," he added.

"If I'm wrong about that, would the secretary of state now tell this house which special provisions apply exclusively and only to servicemen?"

Benn said provisions which "apply exclusively and only to service personnel" include "arrangements to prevent cold calling".

He also said they would not have to "rehearse the history when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would be perfectly capable of providing that information".

The Northern Ireland secretary added that "in respect to other arrangements for witnesses, the law requires that they are available to all witnesses".

SDLP MP Colum Eastwood asked Benn to ensure files held by the MoD would be available to the new Legacy Commission

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MP Colum Eastwood asked Benn to ensure files held by the MoD and Northern Ireland Office would be available to the new Legacy Commission.

Benn said that the commission "has the right to receive all information that it requires for its job".

The Northern Ireland secretary said the government was proposing to amend arrangements for disclosure.

He said this would require the secretary of state to conduct a "balancing exercise" and that "any decision of the secretary of state is open to be judicially reviewed".

"Those are important changes that I hope will give people in Northern Ireland greater confidence," he added.