DUP leader: Government dishonouring Legacy pledges as Labour divided on veterans

The UK Government is “dishonouring commitments” made on Legacy legislation and there are “difficulties and discord” in Labour around the protection of veterans, the DUP leader has said.

Gavin Robinson said he believes the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will not pass this year as Labour MPs do not want it to come through ahead of local elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

All UK police investigations into Troubles-related killings were shut down in May 2024 under the previous Conservative government’s Legacy Act, and a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was established.

Labour’s Bill, agreed as part of a joint framework with the Irish government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers.

Mr Robinson told reporters at Stormont it had been anticipated that the reformed Legacy Bill would be at committee stage on Tuesday, but it now would not be before MPs for “at least another month”.

“The Labour Government’s promise to repeal and replace is threadbare,” he said.

“There has been no focus on prioritising the legacy of Northern Ireland or delivering for victims or for veterans, we are seeing a lack of direction and delay, and it is shameful.

“This session will end in about a month or six weeks time and after two years of an extended parliamentary session, this Labour Government will not have delivered on its key promise to Northern Ireland to deal with the legacy of our past, there will have to be a carryover motion.

“I don’t believe this legislation will pass in 2026, I believe the Legacy Commission will have spent two of their five-year budget before the legislation is even passed, so time is over for delay on legacy.”

Mr Robinson stated his belief that the legislation “could have been done and dusted by Christmas of last year” but “there are clearly difficulties and discord within the Labour Government around protection of veterans”.

Northern Ireland veterans commissioner David Johnstone previously said that the Government’s proposed legislation treats veterans “worse than terrorists”.

In January, Irish foreign minister Helen McEntee said any significant changes to legislation linked to a joint UK/Irish framework on the Troubles must have the full agreement of both governments, after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated there may be new protections for military veterans.

The DUP leader said: “I do not believe there are people within Labour who want to see this legislation progress in advance of the local elections in England, Scotland or Wales.

“There are tensions and complexities within the legislation, as well you know, but Labour are not navigating them well, and they are dishonouring the commitments that they have made to the people of Northern Ireland and those most particularly concerned by the legislation.”