A former SAS commander has backed ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns’s warning that Labour risks driving veterans towards Reform UK if it gets its Northern Ireland Troubles legislation wrong.
Speaking to GB News, Richard Williams said Mr Carns was right to warn the Government that mishandling veterans’ protections could have significant political consequences.
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Speaking to GB News, Mr Williams praised the former minister for speaking out against his own party.
“Thank you to Al Carns for stepping up the way he has,” he said.
“He clearly believes that this is a national and historical necessity, the protection of veterans who conducted their business, their duty on all of our behalf lawfully in Northern Ireland.”
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“It’s very useful in terms of what we think is a national agenda, not just an SAS agenda, that former Minister Carns stands up there and says he will not be diverted by party loyalty or any other influence from making these important statements,” Mr Williams said, adding: “I hope people listen.”
Writing in the Spectator, Mr Carns said: “I believe the Prime Minister and the new government can build on the work of Tony Blair and (Mo) Mowlam and get this right.”
However, he warned: “Get it wrong, and we hand Reform the veterans, Sinn Féin the constitution, and the Tories the satisfaction of watching us fail at something they could not do themselves.”
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