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Reform pledges to curb prosecutions of soldiers within 100 days
Reform UK says it would limit prosecutions of British soldiers, promising action within 100 days if it takes office. The pledge comes as Northern Ireland veterans face further legal enquiries over incidents from the Troubles, and as Reform appoints former RAF Wing Commander Angus MacIntyre as its armed forces spokesperson.
MacIntyre says Reform would pardon veterans convicted for carrying out orders, end ongoing prosecutions and prevent new ones without the Defence Secretary’s explicit consent. Veterans’ campaigner Paul Young objected that the Defence Secretary is a political appointee and argued a Supreme Court judge should assess whether cases proceed; former army intelligence officer Philip Ingram also questioned whether the pledge could be delivered legally. Reform says it would raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 and 3.5 per cent by 2035, funded in part through welfare budget cuts.
In short
- Reform promises to restrict prosecutions of British soldiers.
- Veterans and a former intelligence officer question the proposal.
- The party pledges defence spending of 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that soldiers serving in extraordinary and dangerous circumstances need fair, timely treatment, and that repeated investigations can impose lasting strain on veterans and their families. Requiring senior approval for prosecutions, ending current cases and pardoning those convicted for carrying out orders could, in their view, protect service personnel from politically driven or prolonged proceedings and recognise the pressures of military service.
The case against
Critics could argue that soldiers, like everyone else, must remain subject to independent investigation and prosecution where there is evidence of serious wrongdoing, so victims can seek justice and the rule of law is upheld. Giving a serving minister control over whether cases proceed risks political interference, while broad pardons or halted investigations could deny scrutiny and may be difficult to implement lawfully.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Reform vows to ‘bar further prosecutions of British soldiers’ within first 100 days of taking office”.