Read on Twitter
Of course this is complete drivel. The #OverseasOperationsBill just isn’t fit for purpose.
My @UKLabour colleagues and I care deeply about our Armed Forces – that’s precisely why we couldn’t support it.
A thread… https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1323913829848403968
My @UKLabour colleagues and I care deeply about our Armed Forces – that’s precisely why we couldn’t support it.
A thread… https://twitter.com/Conservatives/status/1323913829848403968
No one is denying there’s a problem with some of our soldiers and #veterans being investigated repeatedly. Lives have been ruined, but this Bill will not prevent it from happening again.
Part 1 of the Bill seeks only to address prosecutions, of which there have been a total of 27 this century.
But nowhere in the Bill does it mention the need to tackle the root cause of the issue, namely, flawed investigations.
But nowhere in the Bill does it mention the need to tackle the root cause of the issue, namely, flawed investigations.
When giving evidence to @HouseofCommons, the former Judge Advocate General said the Bill, “will not stop people being investigated and it will not stop people being re-investigated and investigated again.”
A view shared by the cross-party @HumanRightsCtte: https://twitter.com/HumanRightsCtte/status/1321708613279383552?s=20
In what felt like a panic-stricken move, @DefenceHQ announced a judge-led review into investigations of service personnel on overseas operations while the Bill was half-way through the parliamentary process. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/judge-led-review-to-provide-greater-certainty-for-troops-being-investigated
Rather than addressing the problem, the government is increasing the likelihood of British troops facing war-crime charges in the International Criminal Court. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/judge-jeffrey-blackett-warns-law-to-protect-soldiers-is-ill-conceived-mcqnkd96s
A point made by the former Judge Advocate General in his evidence to @HouseofCommons:
The effect will be to damage the reputation of our troops and Britain’s standing in the world. As I set out here: https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/overseas-operations-bill-is-damaging-to-both-our-troops-and-our-international-standing
A view shared by the former head of our Armed Forces: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/law-to-protect-soldiers-would-harm-reputation-of-uk-forces-xrh3npzx7
Along with @DavidDavisMP, I asked the government to exclude torture from the Bill.
They voted against our amendment. https://twitter.com/DanJarvisMP/status/1322156952760258563?s=20
They voted against our amendment. https://twitter.com/DanJarvisMP/status/1322156952760258563?s=20
Thank you to all the MPs who signed and voted for it.
Part 2 of the Bill seeks to prevent civil claims being brought against service personnel but in reality, does more to protect @DefenceHQ than our veterans.
The head of @PoppyLegion argued the measures breach the Armed Forces Covenant. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/09/british-legion-boss-clashes-minister-overseas-operations-bill-johnny-mercer
Here’s his evidence to @HouseofCommons:
Labour asked the government to rethink. Instead, they voted against the Shadow Defence Team’s amendment which would have protected the rights of our service personnel.
I care deeply about our Armed Forces and the brave men and women who put their lives on the line in the service of our country.
I would be the first to support any measure to keep them safe. Put simply, this Bill does not do that, as sadly, time will tell.
I would be the first to support any measure to keep them safe. Put simply, this Bill does not do that, as sadly, time will tell.
