Historic Allegations against Veterans

Gary Streeter Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2018 Westminster Hall

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

We will move directly on to our next debate, which is extremely popular. There will be 20 minutes for the winding-up speeches. After Sir Henry Bellingham has spoken for a smart 10 minutes, that leaves about 30 minutes for eight Back-Bench contributions. My maths tells me that that is just over three minutes each. I will not impose a time limit, but if hon. Members have a voluntary time limit of about three minutes each, let us see how we get on. Let us not have too many interventions in this important debate.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

Order. Winding-up speeches will begin at 27 minutes past 5. There are three minutes for each speech.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

Thank you very much for setting a good example. I call Bob Stewart.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

There are two more Back Benchers to go. They have two and a half minutes each, please.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP)]

Thank you for including me in the debate, Mr Streeter. All the contributions have been incredibly thoughtful, not least that from the leader of the debate, the hon. Member for North West Norfolk (Sir Henry Bellingham). There are two aspects to this: can it be done, and should it be done? The lawyers are debating whether it can be done, but those who focus on the negativity of one legal academic who gave evidence to the Defence Committee and on his aspiration that it should apply to terrorists and those who engage in paramilitarism in Northern Ireland are wrong. It can be done. Much more thoughtful legal evidence was given to the Defence Committee as part of the report we prepared seeking a statute of limitations. There has not been enough focus on that.

There has been focus on the rule of law. We set the rule of law in this country. Releasing prisoners in 1998 or in 2000 in Northern Ireland was anathema to at least the 30% of the population who voted against the Belfast agreement, but it was passed in this House and it became the rule of law. When Tony Blair signed comfort letters secretly and quietly and told individual IRA paramilitaries that they would not be pursued for the crimes they committed in this country against this state, that was notionally against the rule of law, but he did it.

There were no hang-ups in the Northern Ireland Office about the on-the-runs procedure. What happened to John Downey, the person responsible for the Hyde Park bombing here in London? He went to court and the prosecution stalled on the basis of an on-the-runs letter. Therefore, when we hear about the rule of law and practical implications, we should remember that we are sovereign in this country—we set the rule of law and the tone—and having appraised ourselves of the moral implications and the moral imperative that, after 20 years of appeasing those involved in paramilitarism and trying to destroy this country, there is a greater prize in protecting those who serve to defend the principles of this country, it can be done, and it should be done.

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

We come to the Front-Bench speeches. The Scottish National party and Labour party spokespeople have five minutes each and the Minister has 10 minutes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Gary Streeter (in the Chair)]

Order. The hon. Lady is not giving way.

[Carol Monaghan]

For the public to have full confidence in our military, there must be some accountability when they operate outwith the rule of law, and there must be due process.