A Simple Way to Make Your Voice Heard on the Troubles Bill
Veterans are asking supporters to write to their MPs ahead of the expected Commons debate on 24 March.
A small group of veterans in Cornwall has been quietly doing something very simple: writing to their Members of Parliament.
The Cornwall Fighting Patrol has been meeting MPs, explaining the concerns many veterans have about the Northern Ireland legacy legislation, and encouraging others to do the same.
Their message is straightforward.
If veterans and supporters across the country contact their MPs now, it may help ensure those concerns are properly heard when the legislation returns to the Commons.
As previously noted on justiceforveterans.uk, the Government appears to be preparing to take the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill through the Committee of the Whole House and the remaining stages in the Commons, possibly on 24 March.
That means there is a short window for constituents to contact their MPs and ask them either to attend the debate or to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, raising veterans’ concerns.
This is not complicated. It takes only a few minutes.
You can find your MP by entering your postcode here:
https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
In most cases, this will provide both the correct form of address and the email address for contacting them. Remember to include your own address in the email or letter so they know you are a constituent.
Below is the draft letter based on the Cornwall Fighting Patrol’s efforts.
People are free to use it as it stands or adapt it in their own words.
Keep punching the bruise: Small actions, repeated across the country, can change the atmosphere around an issue.
The Cornwall group has already shown that direct contact with MPs can make a difference.
If veterans and supporters elsewhere do the same, the debate around legacy legislation will begin to look very different.
Draft Letter to MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Dear [MP’s name],
I am writing to you because I am a constituent and also a veteran. Along with many others, I have been following the parliamentary passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. I understand that the Government appears to be planning to take the Bill through Committee of the Whole House and the remaining Commons stages, possibly on 24 March.
As the Bill has progressed, the Government introduced a framework last September, which was said to protect veterans. This includes measures relating to cold calling, travel, duplication of investigations, consideration of health and well-being, and the possibility of anonymity.
Having looked at these more closely, many veterans believe that these so-called protections apply to anyone in similar situations rather than being measures specifically designed to shield veterans from repeated investigations or prosecution. In practice, they do not prevent veterans from facing ongoing legal challenges related to events from many decades ago.
Veterans are not asking for immunity. They are asking for fairness and realistic protections.
Despite the Government’s statements about engagement, many veterans feel there has been little real movement on these concerns. There is a growing feeling within the veterans’ community that their voices are still not being properly heard.
As your constituent, I would therefore ask whether you will attend the debate on the Bill on 24 March and raise these concerns. If you are unable to attend, I would be grateful if you would write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, to express the concerns of veterans.
Yours sincerely
[Name]
[Address]
You can download a Word document version here.
Or a PDF version here:
Adapt it.
Send it.
Make your voice heard.
