Boris Johnson vows to rip up human rights law persecuting our war heroes
BORIS Johnson last night vowed to tear up human rights laws to stop British Northern Ireland veterans being hounded through the courts.
The PM said he will amend the Human Rights Act in a major victory for The Sun’s Never Forget Them campaign.
Up to 1,000 vets are facing fresh legal probes as officials reinvestigate all 302 Army killings over four decades.
The MoD has set up an Office for Veterans Affairs to look at “lawfare” — and promised to protect troops.
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer told The Sun: “Boris Johnson is committed to tackling the repeated and vexatious legal claims that have recently so undermined our Armed Services and hindered our ability to fight wars. He has tasked me personally to end it, and I will.
“The pernicious effects of so-called ‘lawfare’ have been a blight on this nation for too long. A majority Conservative Government will bring forward legislation to correct this clear injustice.”
The PM also announced vets will get free childcare in a raft of new measures.
They will get a guaranteed interview for public sector roles. No 10 will also give businesses that employ vets a tax break by scrapping NI contributions for a year.
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Speaking ahead of a visit to the Black Country, Mr Johnson said: “If I’m elected on December 12, I want the message from my government to our Armed Forces to be louder and clearer than ever: we salute you and we will always support you.”
Ex-US General David Petraeus also today demands our next government protects troops from legal witch hunts which cause “enormous stress and anxiety”.
He said: “The unfair pursuit of British soldiers and veterans in the aftermath of operations is particularly concerning.”
Vital help, says Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer
IN creating the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, Boris Johnson cemented his credentials with the community I left to enter politics four years ago. When he asked me to create it and lead it, it was the culmination of years of campaigning. Together we are now starting to reset this nation’s relationship with her Veteran Community, and this Armistice Day is an important milestone on that journey.
IN creating the Office for Veterans Affairs, Boris Johnson cemented his credentials with the community I left to enter politics four years ago.
Together we are now starting to reset this nation’s relationship with her Veteran Community.
It is right and proper that today, just over a century on from the first Armistice Day, we are announcing measures to help our veterans in recognition of their service.
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