GUIDE
Background.
The petition and resulting debate on 14th July are just the start. The debate solved nothing, but it did have several positives. We know who is on our side and we know who most definitely is not, including the token Labour veterans MPs, put up by the government especially the lady who called veterans naive.
We also, a result of the illogical position adopted by the Secretary of State for NI has adopted, believe that he is hiding some dodgy, undisclosed deal with people we can all figure out. We now need to drive on to Phase 2.
This government now realises the depth of the trouble it is in, as well as realising that ignoring a large swathe of the white working class in favour of almost everyone else, may not be smart politics. This is the bruise that we must keep punching – hard.
Intent.
To exert pressure on the government, through MPs and the now demoted from Cabinet Veterans Minister, plus a cross-party selection of members from the Upper House, to see the merits of our case, the flaws in their reasoning, and encourage them to take the right action.
Action.
Please send a letter/email to both the Veterans Minister (Al Carns):
and also, your own MP. You can find their address by googling their name as xxxx MP. You may want to contact Dan Jarvis the Security Minister who served for a good few years in the Parachute Regiment:
Draft Options.
Please feel free to adapt any of these so they do not all look the same! Also use the bits you need rather than all of it – let’s make variety the spice of their life!
Introduction
Maybe explain your interest briefly.
I would like to know where we now stand following the 14th July debate. Could you please enlighten me.
The act was put in place to draw a line and protect veterans.
The only people to benefit from repeal are those who caused all the trouble.
What are the next steps?
Where do you stand?
Words are cheap. We want action.
[For Carns - You have beaten Everest while in post, now please beat this injustice].
Main.
If former RUC officers believe that effective prosecution of terrorists is not possible, how are you going to deliver the results for families that you claim to want?
Who really believes that prosecution of terrorists is possible and what do they know that experienced police officers, whose families are among many of those suffering, seem to be unaware of?
The Secretary of State keeps hiding behind a law being unlawful – this does not make sense.
Parliament is sovereign and it makes the law. Lawyers do not. How did a judge manage to find this act unlawful? Had the government’s law officers not approved it before it was passed?
Was that judgement really in context and truly impartial? Is all this legal action delivering fairness or justice?
Looking to the future, where do you stand on the Overseas operations Act?
What are you doing to give credibility to claims that this government will always look after its service personnel when you are taking deliberate action to do the opposite?
This action is a betrayal of veterans and their families. 90% are working class yet this government seems not to be interested in them. You could believe that they are more interested in anyone else.
Do you think Reform would look after veterans better?
Has some deal been made with Sinn Fein that we are not being told about?
Isn’t Dennis Hutchings enough?
How can you square Tony Blair/Jonathan Powell and comfort letters for terrorist murderers with what is being proposed by Hilary Benn? Would those have passed the criteria that the judgement rested upon?
[For Carns: In March you said you had spoken to the Northern Ireland Office to make sure that veterans’ welfare and legal services are provided. Please explain exactly what this means as it looks like a form of damage limitation for when you repeal the act.
Conclusion.
We feel let down by a government that said it would always act in our interests. The actions speak for themselves.
What are you doing about this?
How can you expect to retain our confidence?
Good luck to us all! Please pass on as you see fit. 10 each would be a good target.
Simon Barry
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd)