Johnny Mercer comments on the current Overseas Operations Bill

Johnny Mercer, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State and Minister for Defence People and Veterans has responded to enquiries about the Overseas Operations Bill currently going through the House of Lords to say:

“The UK remains committed to upholding international humanitarian and human rights law, including the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). The UK does not participate in, solicit, encourage or condone the use of torture for any purpose, and we remain committed to maintaining our leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. None of the measures in the Bill will erode the law or prevent the MOD from being held to account.

We will continue to take offences such as war crimes and torture extremely seriously. The Bill does not prevent investigations from taking place and prosecutors will continue to have discretion on whether to prosecute for criminal offences - including torture and war crimes - following an investigation, on the basis of the evidence and the circumstances of the case, and whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. We have included the "triple lock" of criminal measures in the Bill in order to give service personnel and veterans greater certainty that the unique pressures placed on them during overseas operations will be taken into account when decisions are being made about whether to prosecute for alleged historical offences. But it is important to note that the Bill does not act as a pardon, amnesty or statute of limitations, and any allegations of criminal offences will continue to be investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.”

The Bill has still yet to be ratified in its current form.

The Overseas Operations Bill continues its reading in the Lords

The Overseas Operations Bill is at its second reading in the House of Lords, at this point there is nothing the British public can do to stop its passing.

It hasn't reached the Committee stages yet, so it still isn't ratified in its original form.

In its original form it is alleged it provides a level of immunity for torture and war crimes, though Ben Wallace, the defence secretary denies that it will contravene the aims of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Liberty is very critical of this bill and have been following its passage through the houses very closely, as are many MPs now.

Labour came out strongly against the bill in its third reading in the House of Commons.

Everything now rests in the hands of the unelected second chamber.

Commons passes bill critics say will breach international law

The Commons has voted to pass the Overseas Operations Bill, a bill that would allow British soldiers to escape prosecution for war crimes and torture.

A group of MPs led by Jeremy Corbyn defied the Labour Whip over the bill and as the Guardian has reported three MPs are no longer on the front bench as a result.

Freedom From Torture has shared Sonia Sceats’s, associate fellow in the International Law programme at Chatham House, tweet saying this is “disgraceful” and it “isn’t over”.

This move has been criticised by a British soldier and Shami Chakrabarti among others.

This is a damaging prospective blow to justice and challenges the aims of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.

This bill still isn’t yet ratified.