Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has intensified his criticism of the Labour Government, accusing it of being dishonest regarding the impact of the Northern Ireland Legacy Commission Bill on military veterans.

Mr Beattie has called for the Government, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to be transparent about the "six so called protections" featured in the legislation. According to the MLA, while these measures are being marketed as support for veterans, it has been confirmed that the majority will apply to all parties involved in the conflict. Doug Beattie MC MLA stated: "It is time the Government, Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) came clean about the six so called protections for veterans in the Northern Ireland Legacy Commission Bill. As they continue to promote the idea that the six protections are to support veterans, it is now clear, without doubt, that five of these protections will apply to everyone, including the terrorists. This has been confirmed by the NIO and by the head of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Retrieval (ICRIR), Sir Declan Morgan."

The UUP spokesperson expressed concern that the current approach creates a moral parity between illegal paramilitary groups and the security forces.

"What the government has now done, maybe inadvertently, is create an equivalence between the terrorist and those lawful forces who stood against them," Mr Beattie continued. "I have now written to the Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns DSO, OBE, MC, MP, to ask that he use his influence to ensure veterans are given the truth instead of being misled by the government. Veterans, and those who still serve, should not be lied to in such a blatant manner; they deserve honesty, integrity and a commitment from the government that they will support them long after the fighting is over."