SAS veterans call for changes to Northern Ireland Legacy Bill after Carns' work praised
The SAS Regimental Association has heaped praise on the work of John Healey and Al Carns to protect veterans while in government but said the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill is not fit for purpose and must change to provide the protections veterans need.
The organisation, which represents SAS veterans, said in a statement that Carns' resignation letter "reveals that the government’s approach to dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland (NI) is fundamentally flawed".
"The principled departure of both he and the Secretary of State, who have fought hard within government to protect veterans of Operation Banner, sends a welcome message but leaves our members vulnerable to endless vexatious litigation triggered by apologists for terrorists," the statement continues.
Veterans groups speak out
These sentiments were earlier echoed by the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, which praised Mr Carns' work to reform the Legacy Bill and said it wished to "place on record our deep respect for the stand he has taken".
"Throughout his time in government, Mr Carns worked consistently and with determination on behalf of Northern Ireland veterans," the group said.
"Those efforts were well known to us and genuine. They were also repeatedly frustrated."
Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner David Johnstone also praised Mr Carns for his work on Northern Ireland legacy legislation both as Armed Forces Minister and Veterans Minister before that.
"I always found him straight talking with a desire to see improved support and services for veterans. He comes with a highly distinguished military career and that can never be undermined or taken away from him," he said in a post on X.
"Any government that wants to have the support of veterans needs men and women like Al Carns in ministerial positions to bring their knowledge and experience to the table. However, ultimately honour and integrity are paramount, and Al feels he is no longer being listened to."
Backdrop of controversy over legislation
Mr Carns said in his resignation letter that he had worked to reform the Legacy Bill from the inside, but his changes were not accepted, adding he had "run out of room to argue the case honourably from inside government".
"[The bill] risks failing the very veterans it claims to protect," he wrote. "Men and women I served with, those I buried friends alongside, people who did their duty under conditions most individuals in Westminster will never have to imagine."
"A serving minister cannot ask fellow veterans to trust a process he no longer trusts himself."
Campaigners fear the Legacy Bill will open veterans up to prosecutions over historic military activity during the Troubles.
Mr Carns previously came under criticism from the group for putting his career over his country by backing the controversial legislation. Responding to the allegations at the time, he said the government would not allow the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland to bring about punishment for veterans.
"Having served for 24 years and as a serving reservist myself, I understand the importance of avoiding an endless cycle of investigations," he added.
However, the former Armed Forces Minister missed the most recent vote on carrying the Legacy Bill over to the current parliament as he was away visiting troops in the Gulf.
Veterans are clear bill must change
In his resignation letter, which came a few hours after Defence Secretary John Healey quit, Mr Carns said he would work from the backbenches to "keep arguing for a politics rooted in resilience, seriousness, and national renewal… for the service personnel and veterans this government still has a duty to".
The Northern Ireland Veterans Group concluded: "His departure should serve as a warning that the current direction of the NI Troubles Bill is not only unsustainable but risks further damaging confidence among those who served.
"In whatever role Mr Carns now finds himself, we will work tirelessly with him and others opposed to the bill to ensure that it does not finish its passage through parliament and become law."
The SAS Regimental Association also said it stands ready to work with new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis on the Legacy Bill.
"Trust will be hard to restore," the organisation said. "Servicemen and servicewomen were sent to NI to defend the state and the public. The question now is whether Government and Parliament will defend them."
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