National News & Announcements

A leaked memorandum warns that veterans should be offered "equal, rather than preferential, treatment" in relative to other groups. Theresa May personally blocked ministers from proposing a new legislation that could have protected veterans from prosecution for alleged offences during the Northern Ireland Troubles. In an official memo, sent on behalf of the Prime Minister, it sets out instructions that unsolved murders during the Troubles "should not contain" proposals for a statute of limitations on historic prosecutions of veterans.

It is after legislation was proposed to prevent the prosecution of some personnel, but that would not apply to Northern Ireland. MPs have hit out at the Government following reports that plans to protect armed forces veterans from prosecution will not apply to Northern Ireland. The Government faced accusations of making a "rancid backstairs deal" with Sinn Fein, as MPs lined up to call for better protection for ex-servicemen and women from "vexatious attacks" and being pursued through the courts. Mark Francois dubbed proposals to re-investigate every fatality during the Troubles from the late 1960s onwards as "IHAT mark two", after the controversial Iraq Historic Allegations Team investigation, which was shut down over fraudulent claims of criminality by soldiers.

British troops and veterans will be given stronger legal protections against prosecution, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will announce. The new law would protect them from investigation over actions on the battlefield abroad after 10 years, except in "exceptional circumstances". Ms Mordaunt said it would prevent "repeated or unfair investigations".

The At Ease appeal aims to raise money over three years to help fund mental health services. Veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress is launching a £10 million appeal today, to meet the increasing demand from younger veterans for its services. The Prince of Wales, who's Patron of Combat Stress, will launch the appeal tonight at a reception at St James's Palace on the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week.