Reform vows to 'bar further prosecutions of British soldiers' within first 100 days of taking office
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Reform has pledged to rule out prosecutions of British soldiers – save for the 'explicit consent of the Defence Secretary' – as the party unveils its armed forces spokesman.
Former RAF Wing Commander Angus MacIntyre will take up the role from today as the party plays catch-up with the Conservatives on military issues.
The pledges come as Northern Ireland veterans face further legal enquiries relating to incidents decades ago.
The further persecution of former soldiers who faced down the IRA has been enabled by Labour's Troubles Bill.
The government's prospective legislation paves the way for further inquests relating to incidents when British soldiers acted lawfully when they engaged terrorists.
Writing in today's Mail, Mr MacIntyre promised Reform will 'provide our veterans with the support they require', specifically that 'within 100 days we will pardon veterans convicted for simply carrying out orders, terminate ongoing prosecutions and bar further prosecutions of British soldiers – save for the explicit consent of the Defence Secretary'.
He continued: 'We see the utterly disgraceful treatment of our veterans who have found themselves prosecuted merely for doing their jobs.
'Ex-soldiers should not spend their retirement wondering whether the very country they swore to defend will stand by them. We will have their backs.'
Reform leader Nigel Farage has appointed former RAF Wing Commander Angus MacIntyre as the party's armed forces spokesperson.
But Reform's eye-catching promises on immunity were challenged by veterans today.
Paul Young, a former cavalryman and a prominent campaigner, urged Mr MacIntyre and Reform leader Nigel Farage to rethink.
Mr Young said: 'We could not endorse those policies based on those wordings. The Defence Secretary is a politician rather than a legal person. We have advocated that a Supreme Court judge should decide whether cases proceed, based on the requirement for new, compelling and extraordinary evidence.
'The Defence Secretary will likely defer to their Attorney General, another political appointee, for legal advice.
'Also, we have never called for pardons, rather the prevention of repeated attempts to prosecute soldiers without legal justification. When someone has committed a crime they should be subjected to the appropriate processes.'
Former army intelligence officer Philip Ingram agreed, saying: 'Opposition parties promise lots. I don't believe there is a legal mechanism to achieve what they're promising.'
Mr MacIntyre is a Northern Ireland veteran himself. He also served in Afghanistan. He said he could no longer stand to see service personnel 'feeling undervalued, under-resourced and forgotten'.
Reform is calling for cuts to the UK's £330billion welfare budget to support increased defence spending.
The party says it will commit to spending 3 per cent by 2030 and 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035 – matching pledges by Labour and the Conservatives.
According to Reform, Mr MacIntyre served for 40 years after joining the Army in 1986 aged 18. He then transferred to the RAF Regiment in 1999.
The married father-of-two also served in Iraq and worked for the United Nations in Somalia.
ANGUS MACINTYRE: Why I quit the military after 40 years to be Reform's first Armed Forces spokesman
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