Government Betrayal Is Not Closure

Words Are Cheap, Protections Are Weaker, and Veterans Are Left Exposed

It has now been over 80 days since the Westminster debate triggered by the petition that has gathered almost 206,000 signatures. Parliament is required to publish the outcome of the debate, yet here we are, still waiting.

Instead of transparency, the Minister for the Armed Forces sent a letter on 19th September — a Friday, when Parliament was in recess. Perhaps following the old Blair-era dictum: “a good day to bury bad news.” You can almost hear some SPAD in Whitehall, who has never heard a shot fired in anger, suggesting this strategy to their minister.

The intent is clear. But why? Why is this process so shoddy that the Government resorts to these tactics?

Adding to the concern, we now have a new Veterans Minister — the very MP who, during the debate, called veterans naïve. Hardly reassuring, and clearly wrong.

The Government speaks often of its focus on the working class. Yet when you examine the reality for veterans — overwhelmingly working class — its actions betray a lack of understanding, a lack of care. Perhaps veterans are simply the wrong sort of working class.

The letter of 19th September repeats the assertion that this will “bring closure,” despite experienced RUC officers warning that prosecution of terrorist offences is close to impossible. So once again, the targets are ordinary policemen and soldiers.

And the protections the minister claims are in place? They are less than those currently available. Words are cheap. Actions count. And so far, the Government’s actions seem to favour the IRA — the organisation responsible for decades of terror, killing, destruction, and misery in the first place.

If you doubt this, listen to what Sinn Féin has been saying — their alignment has been clear since before 1969. Forget the political stunts, the photo opportunities, and the occasional funding for veteran projects. What matters is justice and real protection for those who served.

This is what real betrayal looks like.

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