British veterans have accused Sir Keir Starmer of ‘knifing’ them ‘in the back’ over the Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which could see them subjected to endless vexatious prosecutions.
There is a ‘simmering anger’ within the veteran community after Labour MPs voted to withdraw protections from Northern Ireland veterans in January.
And former soldiers up to the age of 65 now face being recalled to fight against Russia following plans announced by the Government.
War heroes who fought in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan have told the Daily Mail they feel ‘mugged off’ by Labour after risking their lives for a country they feel is no longer ‘worth fighting for’.
Patrick Mercer, 69, is a former colonel in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, who deployed to Northern Ireland nine times before becoming MP for Newark from 2001 to 2014.
He said: ‘Veterans are articulate in their irritation. [Homeless former soldiers] feel the treatment of veterans is disgraceful and that individuals who don’t serve, work or contribute are treated better than them.
‘There is a simmering anger that successive governments have mistreated the men who saved their governments.’
He suggested Labour was ‘not patriotic’, which ‘deeply undermines the confidence of the troops’, adding that the Prime Minister has a ‘woke set of morals’.
Patrick Mercer, 69, (pictured centre, holding a rifle) completed nine tours of Northern Ireland
He said: ‘The twisted hypocrisy of the Government is that troops are constantly praised… which makes me sick to my stomach.
‘The Government’s repeal of the Northern Ireland protections is designed to make life more difficult for troops on the frontline.’
Mr Mercer said that as a result, ‘NCOs [non-commissioned officers] and junior officers on operations will constantly have to look over their shoulders’.
A lieutenant colonel currently serving in the Armed Forces, whose troops could be deployed to Ukraine in the event of British boots on the ground there, told him he has sought ‘official sanction’ for a legal team.
This senior officer told Mr Mercer he has also considered personally funding a legal team in the event of being deployed to Ukraine – but it is unclear whether lawyers would represent him personally or his battalion.
Soldiers of major conflicts involving Britain in recent decades have condemned successive governments for failing them – but Labour’s rollback on protections against vexatious prosecutions of Northern Ireland veterans has drawn strong criticism, with suggestions that troops from other wars, including Iraq and Afghanistan, could be treated the same way.
Last month’s vote means the protections laid out by the Conservative Party’s Legacy Act, which was introduced in the last parliament, would be withdrawn despite the release of all paramilitary prisoners as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
Tim Balsom, 51, is a former lance corporal of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment who completed one tour of Iraq.
Tim Balsom, 51 (pictured during his tour of Iraq), said veterans do not trust Labour
He told the Mail that the way Labour has treated veterans is ‘disgusting and disgraceful but sadly not surprising’.
Mr Balsom described how there is a ‘lack of trust in Labour’ across the veteran community over Northern Ireland and the Government’s plans to extend the recall age to 65, saying: ‘We despise the current Government over their treatment of veterans.
‘They would happily knife us in the back when we return [from war]. Older members of the battalion are disgusted.’
Mr Balsom said veterans feel the Government has an ‘antipathy towards us’, adding that he’s concerned he could be recalled to fight in Europe after having served in the Army for 13 years.
Ben McBean, 38, is a former Royal Marine who served in Afghanistan before suffering life-changing injuries as a result of an IED explosion, in which he lost an arm and a leg.
He said: ‘The truth is that when you leave the military you’re on your own, you don’t get looked after.
‘There are charities, but not a lot of them help. You try to reach out for help but there are no real signposts. I had to pay for my own prosthetics.
‘When ministers talk about veterans it’s always about how they’re on the streets… veterans are treated like s*** and many up dead [from suicide] or homeless.
Ben McBean, 38, lost an arm and leg after being blown up by an IED while serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan
‘The Marines were prestigious and elite when I joined – but now if you tell people you want to join the military, people laugh and say ‘why would you fight for this Government?’
‘The Government treats us like s***. When I fought 20 years ago Britain was different, the way we used to live was different. Now we’re not living, we’re surviving.
‘Politicians mug us off, they never send their kids to war. And when people are aware of how we’re treated, we can’t save, can’t get a job or mortgage, I wonder why people are weighing up the odds of joining [the military].
‘Is it worth it? I have all this extra s*** with PTSD and my limbs. I’ve got nothing to show for it. It’s a joke.’
In response to the Government’s announcement that the recall cap will be raised from 55 to 65 years old from next year, and fears that Britain’s sons and daughters must be prepared to fight a war in Europe, Mr McBean said: ‘I totally get the people who say “I don’t want to fight”, but if we go to war someone needs to. I’ve been to war, I’ve done my bit.
‘But now I’m against war if we don’t need to get involved. You don’t get looked after, the country isn’t worth fighting for. But it wasn’t like this 20 years ago when I joined.
‘The state of us now, it’s sad. I totally get why people are p****d off. People used to have respect for the military – now most people almost laugh. Do you blame them?
‘Years ago, I would have encouraged my kids to join [if they wanted to]. When I joined, Afghan was kicking off big time. But now, knowing how things go wrong when you get back, it’s f****d.’
Mr McBean added that ‘there’s no mental health support, you can’t afford bills’ and ‘there are ‘more and more cutbacks’ to the Armed Forces. He said he ‘wouldn’t encourage’ his children to enlist.
‘War is about maximum violence and I know if they could get injured [there would be no support].’
Former Conservative veterans minister and Commando officer Johnny Mercer condemned the Government in a Facebook post last month, accusing Labour of having taken ‘its latest step in repealing veterans rights in the UK, by restarting the prosecutions of veterans who served in Northern Ireland which I had stopped because they were unfair, mendacious and hounded innocent men to their graves‘.
He added: ‘I never expected another government to come in and want to promote my agenda, that’s naive and unrealistic. But I did not expect them to systematically undo 10 years of work trying to improve veterans rights in the UK.’
Reform UK have vowed to end the scandal of elderly British soldiers being ‘dragged in front of the courts for repeated and vexatious prosecutions’, while terrorists ‘walk free’.
Nigel Farage said he intends to use the ‘royal prerogative of mercy’ to pardon convicted soldiers and end prosecutions that are already under way.
Reform MP Sarah Pochin said: ‘A Reform government would repeal this Troubles Act and ensure that no British veteran ever faced prosecution for simply following orders.’
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: ‘We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and have served and are determined to ensure no veteran falls through the cracks.
‘Figures released [in January] show the Government is spending a record level of funding on veterans, and mental health support is at a record high.
‘This includes investing over £25million each year into physical and mental health services for veterans, millions more into employment and housing support, ensuring jobs and homes for our heroes, and addressing veterans’ concerns about fragmented support services through the new £50million Valour programme.
‘Our commitment to our Northern Ireland veterans is unshakeable. The previous government’s Legacy Act was rejected by the courts and delivered no real protections to veterans and left them in a legal wild west.
‘The new Bill has six lawful protections, designed in consultation with veterans so the legislation works for them.’
The MoD said it was aware of the strength of feeling within the defence community on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, adding that it has held constructive meetings with veterans groups.
It said the Government is committed to ensuring that veterans are treated fairly with the respect they deserve and that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill provides a balanced approach to addressing legacy issues, while delivering justice and reconciliation for all those affected.
The MoD added that it is aware of the impact that historic investigations can have on those affected by them and that the welfare of Armed Forces personnel and veterans is of the utmost importance.
The Cabinet Office did not respond to a request for comment.
