Northern Ireland veterans protest in central London over plans to repeal Legacy Act

Veterans who served in Northern Ireland have staged a protest in central London against the Government's plan to repeal the Legacy Act.

The legislation, which was introduced under the Conservatives, imposed a ban on inquests and civil actions related to the Troubles, while offering conditional amnesties for those accused of crimes during the conflict.

Around 100 motorcyclists – many of them former service personnel – rode past Downing Street toward Parliament, while other demonstrators blocked the entrance to HM Revenue and Customs at Whitehall.

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The protest is part of a broader backlash against plans to scrap the Act, a move that Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described as "completely wrong".

Mr Benn initiated the formal repeal process in December 2024, fulfilling Labour's pledge to dismantle the controversial legislation.

The Act, which effectively shut down historical inquests into Troubles-related cases, had been widely opposed by victims' families and human rights groups.

Among the speakers at the protest was former soldier and veterans minister Johnny Mercer, who has previously defended the need to protect ex-service personnel from historical prosecutions.