Statement by TUV East Belfast representative John Ross:
“On Thursday 18th June I was invited to a meeting with the new Veterans’ Minister, Leo Docherty, one of series of meetings he was having whilst in Northern Ireland.
“He was very much in listening mode, and seemed reluctant to get into any exchange of views.
“I had an earlier meeting, after the collapse of the trial of Soldiers A and C, with the previous Veterans’ Minister who had been sacked on the eve of his intended resignation. His stated reason for his intention to resign was learning that despite promises made by Boris Johnson, on protective legislation, that pen had not been to paper on the issue. This contradicted promises he had made to veterans.
“On the first day of his tenure as Veterans’ Minister, 24hrs after Mr Mercer’s sacking, he unequivocally stated that legislation was forthcoming.
“I asked him the obvious question, of what information he was privy to, on his first day in office, that had been denied to his predecessor. I got no answer, but was asked ‘what I wanted” – a strange question when we were led to believe that proposed legislation had been written.
“I made it clear to the Minister, that there was a total breakdown of trust between veterans and the Government, due to unfulfilled promises given by the Prime Minister.
“The Minister was pressed on the introduction of protective legislation for Op Banner Veterans, and we were given an assurance, that draft legislation would be presented to Parliament before the summer recess.
“We now await an answer on that promise, but frankly many are prepared for yet another disappointment, and further anguish for those veterans and their families, still under investigation, through appeasement and the Republican rewriting of history.
“Is this promise going to be kept or has this too been delayed or abandoned as a result of the Government’s deal with Sinn Fein? What part did this matter play in the negotiations leading up to the nomination of a First and deputy First Minister last week?”