The Government presented the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill on 18 March 2020. The main purpose of the Bill is to provide greater legal protections to Armed Forces personnel and veterans serving on military operations overseas. This concerns the framework of law governing armed conflicts.
Sarah Dines MP said, ‘This week I voted for our Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill. It will help to ensure essential legal protections for both Service personnel and Veterans who have served on military operations overseas. The Bill will help tackle vexatious claims and the cycle of reinvestigations. When I was elected as an MP in December 2019 I immediately joined the Veterans All Party Parliamentary Group. I am passionate about supporting our Armed Forces, to whom we owe a vast debt of gratitude.
For reasons only Labour understand, they wanted to delay it. This delay would have only served to leave our soldiers continuing to suffer repeated and vexatious claims – something we won't stand for! In the end the Labour Party chose to abstain, rather than vote against, but did not have the courage to vote for veterans.
I had a useful further briefing with Defence Minister Johnny Mercer on 23 September ahead of the debate on this Bill. The Second Reading debate began on 23 September and certainly made for powerful viewing. The Bill delivers on our manifesto commitment to end the cycle of reinvestigations & vexatious claims that can plague our veterans, while ensuring victims always have access to justice.
Since my election I have received countless emails from veterans and supporters of our wonderful armed services and I have been humbled by the contents. Since my election I have been to numerous clubs for veterans in the constituency and have always been greeted with warmth and a strong sense of community duty. I will not hesitate to put the rights of our service personal and veterans first when I can.’
