Nigel Farage has said that a future government led by his party, Reform UK, would pardon British military veterans convicted of offences linked to their service during the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Speaking at a recent event, Farage stated that Reform UK would seek to end ongoing prosecutions and prevent further legal action against former service personnel for historic incidents. He said this would be achieved either through new legislation or by using the royal prerogative of mercy.
Reform UK has indicated that it would introduce a legal bar on future cases relating to Troubles-era conduct by British forces, alongside pardons for those already convicted. The party argues that veterans were deployed in complex and dangerous conditions and should not continue to face legal action decades later.
The proposal is a stated policy position and does not represent current law. Any move to issue pardons or halt prosecutions would require parliamentary approval and could be subject to legal challenge, particularly in relation to existing human rights obligations.
Legacy cases from the Troubles remain a sensitive and contested issue, with strong views held by veterans, victims’ families, legal experts and political parties across the UK and Northern Ireland. As it stands, Reform UK’s comments amount to a campaign pledge, with no changes yet made to existing convictions or legal processes.
