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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Starmer accused of ‘downplaying' Troubles veterans' plight
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'downplaying' the plight of Troubles' veterans who face prosecution under Labour's proposals to change the law. The Government plans to axe legislation that stopped fresh historical inquests into deaths that occurred in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, as well as civil actions. Labour has said that the 2023 Legacy Act is unpopular with Irish political parties and victims' groups, and judged incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Tim Collins, an ex-British Army colonel who gave a famously stirring eve-of-battle speech on the eve of the Iraq War, said that Sir Keir was 'on the wrong side of the argument'. Col Collins, who is from Northern Ireland, attended Parliament on Wednesday to hear the Prime Minister respond to concerns raised in the Commons about the plans. Sir David Davis said that if the plans are not reversed, the Government will 'sacrifice' veterans to 'politically-motivated lawyers trying to rewrite history with a pack of lies'. Sir Keir in turn accused Sir David of 'cheapening the debate' and 'political point-scoring' with his remarks. Writing for The Telegraph, Col Collins said that the Prime Minister had been 'frivolous and even disdainful' when responding to Sir David's concerns. He said: 'The Prime Minister resorted to downplaying an issue that will confront every Labour MP during the upcoming recess. 'As they return to their constituencies, they will face a wave of furious constituents, incensed by the Government's harsh and unwarranted treatment of veterans while seemingly rewarding those who waged a 30-year campaign against the British people.' It comes ahead of a debate in Parliament on Monday about the proposed changes to the Legacy Act, with several hundred veterans expected to descend on Whitehall to protest. The Prime Minister said on Wednesday that Sir David 'knows this is a serious issue' but that the phrasing of his question 'did not really reflect that seriousness'. He told MPs: 'We have to tread carefully and we have to get this right, and I'll work with him on that, but we don't get there by cheapening the debate. 'It's not about political point-scoring. I've worked in Northern Ireland, I've spoken to many of the people affected and I know that we must get this right.' He added: 'We have to do that in a serious way to address the issues of the past, of course, in a way that has support of victims and survivors. 'That is a key test for me because without the support of victims and survivors I think it's very hard in Northern Ireland to come up with something that will have the confidence of everybody in Northern Ireland, which is why we have to work in the way we do'. The Northern Ireland veterans' tsar told The Telegraph last month that up to 70 former soldiers could end up 'in the dock' over their actions against the IRA on behalf of the British government. Col Collins said: 'Families across the UK sent their sons to keep the peace in Northern Ireland. Many never came home. 'As summer recess nears, constituents should ask their MPs a simple question: Whose side are you on? 'Will they support costly historical revisionism that diverts funds from the NHS and welfare, or will they stand with the majority of British citizens and reject baseless prosecutions?' The shameful betrayal by the PM over our Northern Ireland veterans Watching on from the Special Gallery in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, I was dumbstruck by the Prime Minister's response to a detailed question from Sir David Davis MP regarding the protection of Northern Ireland Veterans. The PM was frankly frivolous and even disdainful to even be questioned on this very important issue, didn't you know he worked in Northern Ireland? Here, I thought, is a man who needs to play to the benches behind him, a man who knows he is on the wrong side of an argument that may well contribute to his downfall. Feeling the intense scrutiny of his own Labour MPs, the Prime Minister resorted to downplaying an issue that will confront every Labour MP during the upcoming recess. As they return to their constituencies, they will face a wave of furious constituents, incensed by the Government's harsh and unwarranted treatment of veterans while seemingly rewarding those who waged a 30-year campaign against the British people. Before Labour MPs face this reality, a Parliamentary debate is set for Monday, prompted by a petition titled 'Protect Northern Ireland Veterans from Prosecution,' which has amassed over 167,000 signatures in just over two months. In my view, this is fundamentally about stopping the politically-driven harassment of our veterans, which seeks to distort and rewrite history. This Labour Government has already stated that they plan to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, making it again possible to mount criminal cases against armed forces Veterans whilst simultaneously making it easier for those who waged war against the state and their political representatives, including Gerry Adams, to gain compensation for 30 years of malice and terrorism. After three decades of violence, the Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin, widely seen as its political wing, entered a peace process led by the Government. As part of this, the Blair administration issued over 200 'comfort letters' to individuals suspected of serious crimes, providing them with written assurances that they would not face prosecution. No such guarantees were given to the MoD, nor were they considered necessary at the time. Over 90 per cent of killings during the Troubles were perpetuated by illegal paramilitary groups, with the IRA responsible for the vast majority, including most murders within their own Catholic community. In contrast, the police and armed forces accounted for less than 10 per cent of killings, with nearly all of these, lawful, under clear and established rules of engagement. In the rare instances of wrongdoing, charges were brought, and cases were adjudicated. The state acted to protect civilians from sectarian violence. Through the immense service and bravery of soldiers and police officers, full-scale civil war was averted. Tragically, 800 soldiers and over 300 police officers killed, with thousands more left permanently injured. Now, in an effort to rewrite history for a new generation, malevolent forces are seeking prosecutions for events, often over 50 years ago, in the knowledge that many, if not all, have no chance of achieving a prosecution. But the goal isn't justice, it's creating a new narrative. A revised version of history, funded by UK taxpayers, designed to suit the agenda of our former enemies. While Sinn Féin has mobilised a cadre of republican-sympathising lawyers, bankrolled by public funds, the Ministry of Defence and Northern Ireland Office are locked in negotiation. Indeed, one Northern Ireland MP told me the Irish Government is effectively driving the Northern Ireland Office's approach. The process now resembles a Dutch auction. The Irish Government wants up to 14 cases, possibly involving multiple veterans, while the MoD argues for none. A compromise looms, with several weak cases likely proceeding, despite the passage of time and scant evidence. What do the respective governments gain? For Starmer, it's the prestige of appearing progressive on the global stage, earning praise from left-leaning circles for confronting history, even if that history is distorted or fabricated. Additionally, some also have a very close personal interest. Notably, the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, previously represented former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams against claims made against him. For the Irish Government, a historic coalition of two parties once divided by the Irish Civil War, the stakes are nearly existential. With Sinn Féin resurgent and poised to potentially seize power in the next election, the coalition must outshine Sinn Féin's republican credentials to secure their political survival. Targeting British veterans offers a convenient way to do so, especially when the British taxpayer foots the bill. This issue extends far beyond Ireland. Families across the UK sent their sons to keep the peace in Northern Ireland. Many never came home. As summer recess nears, constituents should ask their MPs a simple question: Whose side are you on? Will they support costly historical revisionism that diverts funds from of the NHS and welfare, or will they stand with the majority of British citizens and reject baseless prosecutions? Following last week's contentious Welfare Bill vote and its chaotic whipping process, MPs' responses could shape the Prime Minister's future. Perhaps that explains his decision to play the man and not the issue in his dismissive response to David Davis MP. Our nation expects better.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Sir David's dig about lawyers drew a prim response from the PM. The House didn't warm to Starmer's tone... QUENTIN LETTS on SAS veterans
Tim Collins was in the gallery for PMQs with some old Army colleagues, one of them a beret-topped old lad quite possibly carved from mesquite wood. Col Collins was the Royal Irish Regiment commander who in 2003, before the Iraq war, gave his men a speech about death and honour and the imperatives both of ruthlessness in battle and magnanimity in victory. It ended with the stirring words 'our business now is north'. Anyway, he and the mesquite guy and their friends were in the Commons to hear Sir David Davis (Con, Goole & Pocklington) urge the Prime Minister to stop the legal harassment of former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland. The Government, whose attorney-general Lord Hermer KC once represented Gerry Adams, intends to undo a 2023 law which gave soldiers part-immunity from such prosecutions. It is the sort of area in which Sir Keir and his old buddy Hermer kept themselves busy in their professional days. We may guess their instincts. PMs can not always indulge their youthful radicalism. They must consider bigger concepts such as military morale, natural justice and public sentiment, which is not necessarily as fussed about dead IRA terrorists' human rights as certain fancy KCs might be. Sir David spoke up, for the sixth time in recent months, for veterans who could be 'exposed to legal persecution for crimes they did not commit'. Up in the gallery, Col Collins and his neighbours listened impassively. When lobby groups visit Parliament they normally do much nodding and craning of necks to demonstrate their emotional involvement. These Army boys did none of that. They just sat there like troopers awaiting the first shot of a skirmish. They were controlled. Intent. Sir David noted that during the Troubles there was never a shortage of legal oversight for the security forces. 'No bullet went unscrutinised. Our soldiers were held to the highest standard of law. The IRA were not. They tortured and shot men in the back.' Yet now the Government intended to prosecute 'our own men' over split-second decisions taken decades ago. The House, which had earlier been in a rather silly mood, listened to all this in silence. Sir David has, over the years, rebelled enough against his own whips to have earned the right to be heard. To swelling agreement he asked: 'Will the Government protect our veterans or sacrifice them to politically motivated lawyers trying to rewrite history with a pack of lies?' There followed, from Sir Keir, a 15-sentence reply that was oddly tone-deaf and, I fear, horribly revealing. For it was quickly evident that Sir David's line about 'politically motivated lawyers' had irked Sir Keir. Touched a nerve, you might even say. He complained that the final part of Sir David's question had lacked 'seriousness'. 'We have to get this right,' he said primly, 'but we don't get there by cheapening the debate. It's not about political point scoring.' 'Cheapening the debate' and 'scoring points'? If anyone were guilty of that, it wasn't David Davis. The House did not warm to Sir Keir's reply. Some MPs growled at it. Sir David himself looked startled that the Prime Minister had responded with such lack of, well, seriousness. As for Col Collins and his men, they flinched not an inch, or in the case of the hard-as-mesquite man, a twig. One sensed that they were unsurprised. Soldiers, and others who put their lives on the line for our safety, seldom have much time for lawyers. After PMQs there was an urgent question about the future of jury trials, which are under threat. During this discussion a justice minister, Sarah Sackman KC, spoke of the 'revered judge' who had come up with this grotty proposal. One often hears lawyers describe judges as 'distinguished' (they love the word). But 'revered'? That is quite a leap. Ms Sackman, who was on wearisomely partisan form, trilled away about how non-jury trials would be quicker and more efficient. Down my neck ran a chill.
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Washington Post
Charges dropped against 3 officers after they make a training video about fatal Colorado shooting
DENVER — Charges have been dropped against all but one Colorado law enforcement officer accused of not stepping in and possibly preventing the fatal 2022 shooting of a man in distress who had called 911 for help. The misdemeanor charges of failing to intervene were dismissed against Tim Collins, Brittany Morrow and Ryan Bennie under a deal that required them to record a training video about what went wrong in the standoff with Christian Glass in a small mountain community, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum confirmed Friday.
Associated Press
09-05-2025
- Associated Press
Charges dropped against 3 officers after they make a training video about fatal Colorado shooting
DENVER (AP) — Charges have been dropped against all but one Colorado law enforcement officer accused of not stepping in and possibly preventing the fatal 2022 shooting of a man in distress who had called 911 for help. The misdemeanor charges of failing to intervene were dismissed against Tim Collins, Brittany Morrow and Ryan Bennie under a deal that required them to record a training video about what went wrong in the standoff with Christian Glass in a small mountain community, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum confirmed Friday. They were among six officers charged in 2023 with failing to intervene to stop the actions of former Clear Creek Sheriff's Office Deputy Andrew Buen, who shot and killed Glass. The shooting drew national attention and prompted calls to reform how authorities respond to people with mental health problems. Prosecutors tried twice to convince jurors to convict Buen of second-degree murder. The first time the jury convicted Buen of a misdemeanor for recklessly putting other officers in danger by opening fire. In his second trial, jurors convicted Buen of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide for the shooting itself in February. He was sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum sentence he faced. That verdict and the effect three more trials could have on Glass's family as well as the county of about 10,000 people led prosecutors to enter a deal to dismiss the charges, McCollum said. Under the agreement, Collins, Morrow and Bennie all received additional training, including on de-escalation, and participated in making the training video, she said. The hope is that their video will be used by law enforcement agencies across the country that are already using body camera footage of the Glass shooting to teach how not to respond to people in crisis. 'If we can save one life, if we can prevent one law enforcement officer from killing someone, then the dismissal of these three cases is worth it,' McCollum said. Another officer is still charged with failing to intervene and third-degree assault. McCollum said she cannot comment on possible plea deals with him or any defendant. Siddhartha Rathod, a lawyer representing Glass's parents, Simon and Sally Glass, praised McCollum for trying a different approach. 'This is the type of prosecutors we want, who are being creative, who want to create solutions that result in a safer community,' he said. Duty to intervene charges were also dropped against two other officers who work for the state's gaming division in December. A judge ruled they were not covered by the law passed in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd. Buen's supervisor pleaded guilty to failing to intervene.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Park and Nye Bevan swimming pools decision 'a victory for workers'
A trade union which represents more than 70 workers at two council-owned swimming pools in West Lancashire has welcomed the decision to keep them GMB commented after councillors voted last week to save Park Pool in Ormskirk and Nye Bevan Pool in Skelmersdale. GMB regional organiser Tim Collins said: "This is a huge victory for the workers and the community."Meanwhile, the council said it would have to hold a new budget meeting and consider cutting other services and raising charges because of the cost implications of saving the two pools. 'Raising charges' Mr Collins said the union had "fought tirelessly to protect these vital facilities and we're pleased to see that the voices of staff, service users, and residents have been heard"."Public services like swimming pools and ranger services are lifelines for our communities, providing jobs, health benefits and vital green spaces."Thanks to our members' determination and the support of key councillors, we've saved more than 70 jobs and secured the future of these services. "We'll continue to work constructively with the council to ensure these facilities remain sustainable for years to come."West Lancashire Council had been due to agree its budget for the coming year at a meeting on 26 February.A revised budget must now be agreed before the end of a statement following the decision to reverse its pool closures plan, the council said its budget gap had been forecast to increase from £2.11m to £3.39m in 2026-27, and then reach £4.11m the following said councillors now needed to "look at all alternatives, which will include additional cuts to council services and raising charges". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
