Labour branded 'spineless' over 'witch hunt' of Troubles veterans

General Sir Peter Wall, who led the Army from 2010 to 2014, and General Sir Nick Parker, the final commander of operations in Northern Ireland, are spearheading efforts to secure greater protections for former troops.

Sir Peter told The Telegraph: "The stance at the top of Government is incompatible with the deployment of military force. At every level, it's grotesquely unfair. It betrays the service of these individuals to the Crown."

The coalition of military leaders has drafted amendments requiring that fresh investigations can only proceed where "compelling new evidence" exists, with assessment by the Supreme Court.

Their intervention follows Labour's decision to scrap Conservative immunity provisions, which critics argue exposes veterans to spurious legal claims.

Special Air Service veterans are preparing an unprecedented rebellion against what they characterise as potential "show trials", with the regimental association urging members to refuse giving evidence at future inquiries.

The Special Air Service Regimental Association has warned it has assembled "high-priced lawyers" ready to challenge Labour's legislation should it pass without amendments.

David White, a former SAS colonel, said the bill would "open the floodgates" to fresh legal action, adding: "This is persecution of our soldiers, who are being endlessly dragged through the court with mischievous, vexatious claims. It's lawfare.

"It condemns veterans like me and colleagues to potential decades of further legal inquiry and investigation, none of which is focused on getting to the truth; it's purely built to embarrass the Government and seek vengeance on us."

George Simm, formerly regimental sergeant major of 22 SAS, warned: "This has gone too far. Special forces are just the canaries in the mine."

Three former soldiers are scheduled to appear at Belfast magistrates' court on April 20 facing charges related to shootings during the Troubles.

One veteran, identified as Soldier F, faces a murder charge over the death of Patrick McVeigh, aged 44, in May 1972. Two others, designated Soldiers B and D, are accused of attempted murder in a separate incident that same evening.

Military chiefs have expressed concern that up to nine inquests could resume if the legislation proceeds unchanged, potentially dragging veterans now in their late seventies or eighties back through the courts.

Among cases under judicial review is the 1991 killing of three IRA members in Coagh, County Tyrone, by an SAS team. Peter Ryan, Tony Doris and Lawrence McNally were ambushed while travelling to commit murder.

Senior military figures fear republicans will exploit legal processes to "rewrite" the history of the IRA's campaign.

Alex Burghart, the shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, has called on ministers to abandon the legislation entirely

He said: "The Government needs to see sense and kill this bill. The last Conservative Government tried to draw a line under the Troubles and allow Northern Ireland to move on. Labour is erasing that line.

"This will mean ever more vexatious claims against veterans who served in the most difficult of circumstances. The Conservatives will fight this legislation to the last and continue to demand genuine protections for those who served."

Sir Peter added: "We’re not in any way trying to protect people who have done wrong things. We’re trying to protect people who have done the right things but are being hounded by vexatious comments and court cases."

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman defended the government's position, stating that adherence to the rule of law remained fundamental to how the Armed Forces operate.

The spokesman noted that the previous administration's immunity scheme had been "widely rejected" by many veterans and families of IRA terrorism victims, including relatives of soldiers killed on British soil.

Ministers insisted the new approach would deliver "robust protections" for Operation Banner veterans, including safeguards against repeated investigations and requirements to travel to Northern Ireland to provide information.