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Northern Ireland: Legacy of the Past
19 March 2026
Lead MP
Tonia Antoniazzi
Gower
Lab
Responding Minister
Hilary Benn
Tags
Justice & CourtsNorthern IrelandForeign AffairsParliamentary Procedure
Word Count: 12243
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Tonia Antoniazzi raised concerns about northern ireland: legacy of the past in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must reassess the current financial envelope and address funding issues immediately. They should also broaden the definition of close family members for investigations and engage further on veterans' concerns. The Bill's proposal for information disclosure needs careful consideration to ensure trust and confidence in the legacy process.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The report highlighted serious concerns about resourcing for the legacy process, including a £250 million funding allocation that may not be sufficient. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) faces increased demands without adequate financial support. There are also issues with classifying documents as sensitive or prejudicial before transferring them to the legacy commission, which can burden PSNI and impact trust. Victims' concerns include potential duplication in advisory groups and a false dichotomy between veterans and victims. Veterans worry that proposed protections may not be substantial enough. The Bill's narrow definition of close family members for investigations risks excluding relatives crucial to pursuing answers. Inquests are seen as an improvement but have rigidity issues, while information disclosure remains a significant concern due to the ministerial veto over what is disclosed.
Alex Ballinger
Lab
Halesowen
Acknowledged that there are 200 service families among those victims seeking answers and that the Bill would help address this issue. The hon. Gentleman thanked the previous speaker for sensitivity in his speech and questioned whether the remedial order was necessary, as the immunity scheme it nullified was already struck down by courts.
Alex Burghart
Con
Brentwood and Ongar
I just want to say that the hon. Gentleman is wrong. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's report is interesting; however, it did not address the whole troubles Bill. The legacy Act was a response to previous Labour Government policies that granted immunity only to former terrorists without a democratic mandate.
Claire Hanna
SDLP
Belfast South and Mid Down
Thinks legislation alone will not suffice for truth and reconciliation, urging various groups to step forward for accountability. Highlights the need for the UK Government to accept compromises of human rights protections and collusion with paramilitaries, loyalist paramilitaries to acknowledge their war against Catholics, and the IRA to address its coercion of communities.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
She highlighted the importance of remembering victims of the troubles and acknowledged the work of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's report, which brought together various aspects of the Government's legacy legislation. She discussed specific unsolved cases that have remained unanswered for years by families seeking justice. Anderson also criticized the previous Government's Act as it shut down civil cases and stopped inquests midway, denying many victims their right to pursue justice. She welcomed the new approach taken by the current government which includes restoring civil cases and enabling the resumption of halted inquests. In 1998, immunity was part of the Good Friday agreement and the population voted on it. However, there was no such vote for immunity in the legacy Act.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr. Shannon expressed deep concerns over the government's approach to inquests regarding Troubles-related cases, highlighting issues with coroner's reports and perceived bias against security forces. He cited examples such as the Clonoe inquiry, where a coroner questioned ex-SAS soldiers' actions during an ambush, questioning their honesty and integrity. Mr. Shannon also stressed the need for accountability from the Irish Government regarding collusion in terrorist activities. He argued that families of victims of terrorism faced inadequate investigations and no state-funded legal representation.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
The Government's new approach makes it less likely for people to step forward and speak the truth. The previous Conservative Government's immunity provisions are described as an affront to democracy, which is not true. Julian supports a statute of limitation coupled with a truth recovery process to avoid vexatious prosecutions and promote effective truth recovery. Mr. Julian Lewis mentioned that he is not an expert on recent developments but recalled correctly that the previous Government were appealing a court decision and this Government decided to discontinue the appeal.
Katrina Murray
Lab
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Ms Murray discussed the impact of the troubles on Northern Ireland, highlighting that it affected everyone who lived or served there. She emphasized the importance of expanding the definition of close family members in legacy inquiries to include distant relatives such as cousins, especially for soldiers who died young without families.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Inquired if the right hon. Member will give way during an intervention. Asked if the hon. Friend agrees that the Government is right to address the issue for victims who have come forward, based on their discussions at the WAVE centre.
Mike Kane
Lab
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Paid tribute to Councillor Tommy Judge, a victim of the 1974 bus bomb in his constituency who is standing down after many years of public service.
Paul Kohler
Lib Dem
Wimbledon
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the hon. Member for Gower on securing this debate and acknowledge the men and women who served during Operation Banner. The hon. Gentleman criticises the legacy Act for granting immunity to terrorists and undermining the rule of law. He supports the remedial order as necessary to bring the UK back within its legal obligations, but expresses concern about the split model proposed by the Government which could lead to confusion over investigations.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Mr. Robin Swann expressed concern about the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and its impact on veterans, particularly regarding the six promised protections for them. He highlighted a 1988 attack on British Army corporals and the need for clear legislative wording to protect veterans. Mr. Swann also called for the inclusion of sexual crimes in the bill's criteria, citing cases such as Máiría Cahill and Paudie McGahon who were victims of rape during the Troubles.
Government Response
Hilary Benn
Government Response
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Gower on securing the debate and thank the members of the Select Committee who have come today. The Government published their response to the report and are confident that the provisions contained in the Bill will bring about necessary reform to the commission. There is an enormous debt owed to Operation Banner veterans, but there will be no rewriting of history or immunity for those who followed rules. The Minister acknowledges a need for further discussions on funding as the caseload unfolds and agrees with ensuring veteran representation on the victims and survivors advisory group. On family members bringing cases, the House needs to consider scenarios where family members disagree. Ministers appoint judges to public inquiries but judicial experts will advise the holder of this office. Changes include a duty to conduct a balancing exercise and give reasons for disclosure decisions. The Irish Government have established by the end of December the Garda Síochána unit and will pursue investigative opportunities, showing good faith in fulfilling fullest possible cooperation once UK legislation is in place. Vexatious prosecutions should not be used as a phrase; independent prosecutors are protected under the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval that the troubles Bill will introduce. The Bill addresses sexual crimes during the period of the troubles by ensuring no alleged offences cannot be investigated. This is probably our last best chance to get this right, acknowledging the wounds have never healed and people continue searching for answers. Time is running out for families who wait too long for answers; the Government are determined to sort this out and build trust that has been so absent.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.