The Labour Government has been accused of betraying Britain’s veterans by an outraged former SAS commander just a day after the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Aldwin Wright joined Martin Daubney on GB News to launch a tirade against No.10, claiming it is persecuting veterans who served in Northern Ireland.
He said many have been plagued by years of legal “witch-hunts” that have made their post-service lives a misery.
“I am bewildered. Totally bewildered. I had the great privilege of commanding the SAS. Many of the people caught up in this legal doom loop are comrades and friends who have made an extraordinary contribution. Not just in Northern Ireland but elsewhere”, he said.
Aldwin Wright is furious at how the Government is handling Britain's veterans
GB NEWS / PA
“Where I’m bemused is, you ask a soldier to apprehend known terrorists possibly engaged in a bombing or murder and you have strict authority and clearances and they’re then cleared by a coroners’ court.
“33 years later under a law which did not exist at the time, they [British soldiers] are taken back around, some of them have been around two or three times now and they cannot escape from it.”
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VE Day celebrations took place across Britain
GETTY/PAMartin Daubney asked Wright about the stress caused to families who have had to put up with years of legal wrangles due to orders being carried out in the heat of war, in some cases several decades ago.
“A lot of these people have put themselves through extreme situations - they have earned a decent retirement with their families”, he said.
“We get the Government grandstanding, saying they support veterans, but no action.
“We need to get the Government to stand up and bloody do something about this. How are we going to recruit soldiers?
Aldwin Wright joined Martin Daubney on GB News
GB NEWS
“They will think, ‘for doing my duty, I could end up in court’. That trust has been broken.”
It comes after Keir Starmer marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) by penning an open letter to all veterans.
On the anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, he told them “how thankful we all are” and the debt “can never be repaid”.
In February, a Northern Irish coroner plunged veterans into despair by ruling the SAS had no justification for shooting dead four IRA terrorists armed with assault rifles and an anti-aircraft gun.
Tory MP David Davis, who served in the SAS, was among those to criticise the ruling branding it “demonstrably wrong”.
Veterans Minister Al Carns, who served in the Special Forces, said the Government would go about securing a judicial review to overturn the finding.
VE Day was marked with a two-minute silence before a ceremony led by King Charles.
Charles left a floral tribute at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, close to Westminster Abbey's west door, on behalf of the nation and Commonwealth.
A handwritten message from the King read: "We will never forget."
The Prince of Wales laid a wreath moments after his father, in tribute to Second World War veterans and the generation who lived through the conflict.
Both wreaths featured flowers which would have been in bloom in May 1945.
William and his wife left a note which read: "For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them."
Standing beside the royal couple was Ken Hay, 99, who served in the 4th Dorset infantry regiment.
The Queen, the Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were among the distinguished guests.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also attended the service.
VE Day marks the end of fighting against Nazi Germany during the Second World War, when peace was declared on 8 May 1945.
Starmer has described the Allied victory as "one of our finest hours" as a country.
