
No 10 says work on repealing Legacy Act ‘in lockstep' but minister may quit
Sir Keir Starmer's Government plans to repeal and replace the Legacy Act, brought in by the Conservatives in 2023 to halt investigations into all but the most serious allegations involving Troubles-related cases.
Human rights groups criticised the act for providing immunity to British soldiers.
But opponents to scrapping it fear that the changes will open up a 'two-tier' system in which IRA members are given immunity but British troops are open to prosecution.
Veterans minister Al Carns is expected to quit over plans to repeal the law, The Times reported.
A No 10 spokesman said the Government was 'working in lockstep' when asked if Mr Carns agreed with Sir Keir's approach, a No 10 spokesman said.
'The Government is always working in lockstep to deal with issues such as this, and we're working in lockstep to fix this issue and the mess that we were left.'
'And as I say, we will set out a process that gives veterans and their families confidence and sets out a process that's proportionate, that's not malicious, that has safeguards in place, and fixes the mess that we were left with.
He said the Government was setting out a course that is 'lawful with fairness at its heart' and that 'we will always protect our veterans'.

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North Wales Chronicle
20 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Northern Ireland's First Minister welcomes intention to lower voting age to 16
Ministers are to bring forward a Bill before 2029 which will include extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, and work to create a system of automated voter registration. Teenagers aged 16 or over can already vote in Holyrood, Senedd and local government elections in Wales and Scotland, but not in UK parliamentary elections. I welcome the news that the British Government is to introduce votes from the age of 16 for elections. This is a step forward for democracy and will enable young people to have a say in their future. I'll now be contacting the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, urging him to… — Michelle O'Neill (@moneillsf) July 17, 2025 It is not known yet whether the legislation will be in place before the next election to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the local government elections in the region set to take place in 2027. Michelle O'Neill described a 'step forward for democracy'. 'I'll now be contacting the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, urging him to ensure that the right to vote at 16 applies to the 2027 Assembly and Council elections in the north,' she said in a post on the social media network X. SDLP leader Claire Hanna said voting rights should be changed at all levels. 'Enfranchising 16 and 17-year-olds has been a long held SDLP position and we welcome confirmation from the Government today that this will be in place for the next general election,' she said. 'There are many young people in Northern Ireland actively engaged in politics and I know that for generations there has been frustration that they could not play a full role in the democratic process. 'The SDLP believes that these voting rights must stretch beyond general elections and be extended to voting for the Assembly and local councils. 'We will continue to make the case for that at Westminster and push for change to secure voting at all levels for 16 and 17-year-olds.' There was also a call to ensure the legislation is in place by 2027 from the Alliance Party. North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland said: 'We have long-argued that the disenfranchisement of our society's young people is a major democratic deficit here in Northern Ireland. 'However, time is of the essence and we need urgent clarification that it will be a priority to see this implemented in time for the next NI Assembly election in 2027. We cannot afford any further delay.'


The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
A new mural in France shows the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in a swipe at Trump
As statements go, it's a big one. A towering mural in France of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes is racking up millions of views online with its swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump 's immigration and deportation policies. Amsterdam-based street artist Judith de Leeuw described her giant work in the northern French town of Roubaix, which has a large immigrant community, as 'a quiet reminder of what freedom should be.' She said 'freedom feels out of reach' for migrants and 'those pushed to the margins, silenced, or unseen.' 'I painted her covering her eyes because the weight of the world has become too heavy to witness. What was once a shining symbol of liberty now carries the sorrow of lost meaning,' de Leeuw wrote in a July 4 post on Facebook, when Americans were celebrating Independence Day. Her depiction of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the French people in the late 1800s, has inspired some sharp criticism. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican lawmaker from Tennessee, wrote in an angry post on X that the work 'disgusts me.' He said he had an uncle who fought and died in France, where U.S. forces saw combat in both World War I and World War II. In an interview with The Associated Press, de Leeuw was unapologetic. 'I'm not offended to be hated by the Donald Trump movement. I am not sorry. This is the right thing to do," she said. The town stood by the work, with its deputy mayor in charge of cultural affairs, Frédéric Lefebvre, telling broadcaster France 3 that 'it's a very strong and powerful political message.' Since returning to the White House amid anti-immigration sentiment, Trump has launched an unprecedented campaign that has pushed the limits of executive power and clashed with federal judges trying to restrain him. People from various countries have been deported to remote and unrelated places like South Sudan and the small African nation of Eswatini. Immigration is one of Trump's strongest issues in public polling in the U.S. The mural in Roubaix is part of an urban street culture festival backed by the town. Roubaix is one of the poorest towns in France. It was economically devastated by the collapse since the 1970s of its once-flourishing textile industry that used to attract migrant workers from elsewhere in Europe, north Africa and beyond. ___ Associated Press journalists Ahmad Seir in Amsterdam and John Leicester in Paris contributed.


Daily Mirror
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women's Charlene White interrupts Kelly Brook as TV debate gets awkward
During a debate on the news that the voting age has been lowered, Loose Women anchor Charlene White was called out by viewers for interrupting Kelly Brook. Charlene White was seen interrupting Kelly Brook during a fiery political debate on today's episode of ITV's Loose Women. The newsreader was in her usual slot as the programme's anchor on Thursday's edition of the ITV lunchtime chat show when she and her co-stars discussed the news that 16 and 17-year-olds will now be able to vote. When Kelly's turn came to speak, she tried to argue that there is "more information" now than the days when perhaps children would have simply copied their parents, even though there is "a lot of misinformation" around as well. The model tried to argue that a person's voting stance can change throughout their life, depending upon their own experiences. She suggested that some people may be more affected by the care system, for example, or may be running a business when they reach adulthood, so the way they vote could be different to how they would have done as a teenager. Charlene continually shouted "Kel, Kel, Kel, so what I'm saying is," over the top of her. Ultimately Charlene also argued that voting needs may change as one gets older, and Kelly concurred, but then quickly added: "So that's why 18-year-olds shouldn't be voting." Kelly then tried to ask if the move was "so important" why it hasn't come about before, but again, Charlene interrupted her again to bring fellow panellist Linda Robson into the conversation. The Birds of a Feather actress simply noted that she had "never been interested" in politics but would encourage her grandchildren to think differently, whilst Nadia Sawalha claimed that the move may help the country "inch towards a democracy" as time goes on. But Charlene's interruption of Kelly did not go unnoticed, and viewers took to social media to vent their frustration. One wrote: "its all kicking off on #loosewomen i'm sure all its 5 viewers are enjoying kelly brook's rant", and another championed Kelly as they wrote: "Go on kelly brook let her finish Charlene". Another viewer complained that Charlene had been "too loud" in the moment and ordered her to "shut up", but another claimed that Kelly had been "way out of her depth" with the comments. Under existing rules 16 and 17-year-olds are already able to cast a ballot in both local and devolved and local elections in Scotland and Wales - but not in England and Northern Ireland. The age of voting at a general election currently stands at 18 for all four corners of the UK. It is among a string of changes that also includes closing loopholes on foreign donations to political parties through shell companies. There will be more severe fines of up to £500,000 for those who breach the rules. UK-issued bank cards will also become an acceptable form of ID at polling stations. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also said "far too many people are being deterred from voting" due to controversial Voter ID rules. Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: "For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline." She said ministers are "taking action to break down barriers to participation". Minister for Democracy Rushanara Ali described it as a "generational step forward". It is the first time the voting ages since the 1960s. Harry Quilter-Pinner, director of think-tank the IPPR, said: "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy. The government has clearly heard these alarm bells. The policies announced today represent the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969, more than 50 years. " And he continued: "At a time when public trust in politics is at a low ebb, this expansion of our democracy is a vital step toward rebuilding confidence, modernising our institutions, and pushing back against the rise of populism." Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns said: 'On this one, Labour have got it right. Giving 16- and 17-year-olds the vote is a long-overdue step towards a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Young people have powerful voices and a vital stake in decisions about their future — it's only right that they have a say at the ballot box." But she called on the Government to go further by scrapping the House of Lords and bringing in proportional voting - a system that would benefit smaller parties.