Voices Ignored: Government's Empty Words on Northern Ireland Veterans

NIO response offers hollow promises while turning a deaf ear and ensuring legal persecution of Operation Banner veterans continues

The Government's response to a petition signed by over 133,000 people demanding protection for Northern Ireland veterans is nothing short of shameful. While paying lip service to our Armed Forces with hollow phrases about "unshakeable commitment" and "debt of gratitude," their actions tell a different story.

What General David Petraeus aptly termed "legal freeloading" continues unabated. The Government seems content to let others do their dirty work, watching from the sidelines as veterans who risked their lives fighting terrorism face relentless legal persecution.

The Northern Ireland Office's response is particularly galling. They claim the Legacy Act was "wrong" and "unlawful" - a curious position that raises serious questions about our national sovereignty. How can British law be "unlawful" unless we've surrendered our legislative independence to foreign powers?

Most egregious is the stark double standard at play. While terrorists who murdered and maimed thousands have long enjoyed immunity through various "peace process" deals, the brave men and women who protected civilians and upheld law and order face endless legal battles. These soldiers made split-second decisions in the heat of combat, showing remarkable restraint while facing constant danger.

Now, those directly responsible for the Troubles cynically rewrite history, casting themselves as victims while pursuing witch hunts against elderly veterans. The Government's promise of "welfare and legal support" for veterans facing investigation is cold comfort - these men shouldn't be investigated at all.

The NIO claims they want to "get this right." But right for whom? The human rights lawyers who've turned persecution of veterans into a profitable industry? The terrorists who've already escaped justice? Certainly not for the veterans who served with honor and dignity during Operation Banner, nor the countless innocent victims who suffered at the hands of murderous thugs.

This isn't about justice - it's about appeasing political interests at the expense of those who served. Our veterans deserve better than to spend their twilight years looking over their shoulders, waiting for the next legal assault.

The 133,190 signatures on this petition send a clear message: The British public stands with our veterans. It's time for the Government to do the same.

You can read the full Government response here.

While you are there, sign the petition to make our voices louder.