Ministers forced to own decisions to send British troops into battle in backbench bill to protect veterans

NewsPolitics MINISTERS who send British troops into battle will be forced to own their decisions under a new law being put down before MPs. Politicians will have to formally sign off the use of military force in Parliament and make clear who takes responsibility. Tory MP David Davis has put forward a bill to tighten up protections for troops being put in to battle by ministers Credit: PA Fat-cat lawyers would have to prove pursuing certain troops is in the public interest before prosecuting them Tory MP Sir David Davis wants soldiers to be protected from being hounded through the courts for years after making split-second decisions on the battlefield. Courts will have to prove pursuing certain troops is in the public interest before prosecuting them. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Sir David said: “Service personnel are asked to make decisions in conditions of danger and uncertainty, often under intense time pressure. “If those decisions are later judged against legal standards which do not match up to the operational environment, the result can be years of legal jeopardy for those who acted lawfully and can provoke hesitation within the chain of command.” Decisions are being picked apart in the courts years later rather than resting with politicians who declare war, an accompanying report argues. Prosperity Institute’s Alexander Gray said: “Unfounded or repetitive claims should not be allowed to torment those who served honourably. This is not only a historical problem. “Such investigations and the fear of retrospective legal action are now having direct operational consequences, including the resignation of experienced special forces personnel, increasingly risk-averse behaviour on operations, and difficulty in recruitment.” Key parts of the Bill include full legal aid for veterans and ensuring inquiries are informed by military expertise. Most read in The Sun Comment now