Backing Our Servicemen and Women

Ranil Jayawardena MP and Chinook

The first duty of HM Government is to keep us safe from those who do us harm—within or without.

Our fantastic servicemen and women put their lives on the line to look after us—now we must look after them.

This Government closed down Labour's Iraq Historical Allegation Team (IHAT) and had tank-chasing lawyers struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, but it is vital we do more. It is disgusting that decent folk are now living in fear, with their reputations damaged for no reason, so we must do more to back our veterans.

I've raised questions about this before (here and here) and now Leo Docherty MP, Member of Parliament for Aldershot, and I have launched a petition to call on HM Government to introduce a Statute of Limitations—a time period beyond which spurious and vexatious allegations can no longer be brought. Our veterans can then get on with their lives without having to look over their shoulders.

This petition aims to do just that and I would strongly urge you to sign it, then share it — with your neighbours, friends and family.

This petition has now been presented to the House of Commons.

Backing Our Servicemen and Women

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To the House of Commons.

The Humble Petition of the people of Hampshire and the wider United Kingdom,

Sheweth,

That urgent action must be taken by HM Government to protect British Military veterans from spurious and vexatious historic allegations and repeated prosecutions.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges HM Government to take all possible steps to immediately legislate for a Statute of Limitations that will prevent British Military veterans of the conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas combat operations suffering spurious and vexatious historic allegations and repeated prosecutions.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

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News

Backing Our Veterans

Today, in the House of Commons, I asked the Minister for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel, Mark Lancaster, for assurances that our servicemen and women are not punished over alleged historical – and vexatious – allegations of crimes taking place during ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.

Ranil Jayawardena MP Backs Our Servicemen and Women

Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, Ranil Jayawardena MP, today presented to the House of Commons his petition calling for a Statute of Limitation on spurious and vexatious prosecutions of Servicemen and Women .