The vast majority of Tees Valley Labour MPs voted in favour of the proposals, while Stockton’s Conservative MP, Matt Vickers, was the only MP in the North East to vote against the Bill.
The legislation scraps the Legacy Act, introduced by the last Conservative Government, which delivered better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles and helped society move forward.
The Government has now repealed the Legacy Act despite warnings from military veterans’ groups that doing so would expose former soldiers to being “hounded” through the courts.
Matt Vickers has always supported Teesside veterans, including protesting with them in Westminster against the Labour Government’s decision to scrap the Legacy Act and reopen the door to prosecutions. Parliament debated the issue of vexatious prosecutions after more than 200,000 people signed a petition calling for protections for veterans to be retained.
Matt Vickers MP said:
“Labour’s decision to scrap vital protections for our veterans is utterly shameful.
“These brave men had our backs and defended our country from terrorism — the least we can do is have their backs.
“This Bill could reopen the door to endless investigations and legal harassment against veterans in their old age. It is simply madness that anyone could support it.
“I’ll keep fighting to protect our brave veterans.”
