Paul Kohler MP statement on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill -

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill was passed through its Third Reading in the House of Commons on October 20th 2026. The Bill is aims to overhaul how the British Government addresses the unresolved legacy of the Troubles, and seeks to repeal and replace the Conservatives Legacy Act 2023.

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I am writing to set out my position, and that of the Liberal Democrats, on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

This week, I voted against the Bill because, in its current form, it does not provide the protections that veterans require and misses a vital opportunity to deliver genuine reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

The Conservatives’ Legacy Act was not fit for purpose - it offered immunity to violent terrorists, failed to uphold our human rights obligations and was opposed by every political party in Northern Ireland.

While I welcomed Labour’s plan to replace that flawed legislation, I regret to say the Government’s proposed solution, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill as currently drafted, is unacceptable. It falls short on its three essential goals: protecting veterans, promoting reconciliation and providing answers to families who have waited decades.

At the heart of every conversation I have had with veterans and their associations is the fear of repeated investigations, with the process becoming the punishment. Unfortunately, despite the Secretary of State’s confidence in the enhanced safeguards he has now included in the Bill, they do not go far enough. Those who bravely upheld the Rule of Law and saved so many lives during Operation Banner deserve more.

The Liberal Democrats worked closely with veterans’ groups, tabling our own amendments and all those proposed by the SAS Regimental Association. These included amendments to strengthen protections, such as a higher bar for opening new investigations and the end of “rinse and repeat” lawfare, where the same matters are repeatedly re-examined and re-litigated. Unfortunately, as is normal in Parliament, very few opposition amendments were put to a vote.

True legacy reform must deliver for the thousands of victims, survivors & bereaved families who lived through the Troubles and still carry its weight today. Despite the progress made in the thirty years since the Good Friday Agreement, divisions still remain; as evidenced most recently by events in Drumcree.

Unfortunately the Bill also fails in this regard as well. That’s why I proposed a legal duty on the Government to publish a reconciliation strategy within six months - one built on the principles of restorative justice, the benefits to which I can attest from personal experience. This was the only amendment, from the 51 I submitted, that was put to a vote under Parliament’s arcane procedures. Regrettably, it was defeated after Labour MPs were whipped to vote against it.

The Liberal Democrats are committed to working constructively to improve this legislation and will continue that battle right up until it receives the Royal Assent.. Those who bravely served their country in Northern Ireland deserve meaningful legal protections; whilst the innocent victims deserve the solace they require, the truth they seek and the justice they deserve.

The Bill now moves to the House of Lords, where I expect it to face much closer scrutiny under their less partisan processes. My Liberal Democrat colleagues will keep pushing for a Bill that provides material safeguards for our troops and strives to promote meaningful reconciliation.