Boris Johnson must ensure ex-RUC officers are protected against the new Troubles witch-hunt
Cops betrayed
THE new witch-hunt over the Troubles, this time into minor misdemeanours by ex-cops, is a sickening outrage.
Its sole purpose is to appease the IRA’s former political wing Sinn Fein, newly restored to power-sharing in Northern Ireland and, incredibly, on the brink of government in Ireland.
The Historical Investigations Unit probe could put thousands of former officers, now OAPs, through trauma, hardship and even ruin. They have nothing but their pensions to defend themselves against civil claims.
And while they are grilled over “non-criminal misconduct” decades ago, even paperwork errors, IRA murderers have grubby get-out-of-jail-free “comfort letters” from the Blair Government.
The Sun has welcomed Boris Johnson’s vow to halt vexatious legal claims against veterans. He reinforced it, to grateful cheers, at our Millies awards.
And it is fantastic that veterans like Defence Secretary Ben Wallace — who served in Northern Ireland — and Johnny Mercer are now running the MoD and know first-hand what our current and former troops go through. We hope it is one department that survives this week’s reshuffle intact.
But the PM must ensure 10,000 ex-RUC officers are given the same help.
The Troubles were an appalling era. For some, the grievances and the grief will never subside. But it is shameful only one side is being forensically investigated for actions taken in the white heat of a conflict half a century ago.
Put a stop to it, PM.
Labour denial
HOW can Labour pick its best leader while dishonestly continuing to deny the real cause of its election disaster?
None of the candidates will risk alienating the pro-Corbyn membership by stating what everyone else knows: “I did not want Jeremy Corbyn to be PM” was the No1 motivator of those who deserted Labour, in Tory peer Lord Ashcroft’s huge survey of 10,000 voters.
As for the party’s claim that its freebie offers were “popular”, voters called them “wildly unrealistic” and “a bribe”.
We hope its sentient supporters and MPs (not you, Richard Burgon) study the report and realise that more Marxist idiocy will ensure defeat next time too.
Without recognising the sickness, they cannot cure it.
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A write fuss
WE can’t see the rhyme or reason in putting barriers around Shakespeare’s birthplace because of a few people taking selfies.
It’s overkill to wreck the historic Stratford landmark’s charm because a handful of idiots have caused minor damage.
Sounds like much ado about nothing.
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