Underground CSC

As a former British officer who served in Afghanistan, I will not be voting for the Government’s Troubles Bill. Those men and women who served during the Troubles made split-second decisions while operating under orders and the rules of engagement, in conditions most of us cannot imagine. The legal principle governing the use of force has not changed. British soldiers in Northern Ireland back then were guided by the same principle that guided me and my colleagues in Afghanistan. However, rules and standards have shifted since then, and soldiers shouldn’t be judged retrospectively by rules that did not exist when they served. Nor should they be exposed to endless or vexatious re-litigation without new material evidence. That is neither fair nor just and could impair critical decision-making on the battlefield.