The government has repeated its pledge to repeal the controversial Troubles Legacy Act in the King’s Speech.
It is among the Labour Party’s legislative plans which have been outlined during the State Opening of Parliament.
The Legacy Act introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to incidents during the conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.
It also sought to offer a conditional amnesty for people suspected of Troubles-related crimes in exchange for co-operating with a new information recovery body.
This element was disapplied after a court ruled it breached human rights, following legal action by bereaved families.
In his speech, King Charles said: “In consultation with all parties, measures will be brought forward to begin the process of repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.”
It followed the Labour Party pledging in its manifesto for the general election on 4 July to “repeal and replace” the legislation.
Under Labour’s plans, the government is expected to remove the conditional immunity provisions.
It also plans to reverse the ban on civil claims and allow Troubles-era inquests halted prematurely to resume.
But it does not intend to repeal the act in its entirety without first having a replacement in mind.
The government plans to “explore options to strengthen the independence” of the new body set up under the legislation, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information (ICRIR).
It intends to consult with Stormont parties, the Irish government and communities in Northern Ireland on a way forward.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart welcomed the repeal of the legacy legislation but said the “devil is in the detail”.
“We will be speaking out on behalf of victims, and we will be pushing the UK government to push the Irish government to do more on legacy,” she said.
“We are disappointed there wasn’t more on the restoration of Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom because of the overreach of the protocol and the Windsor Framework so we will be working with our colleagues on the unionist benches to ensure our rightful place is restored.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he was delighted to see the legacy act “binned” and described the repealing of the legislation as a “big victory for victims”.
The Foyle MP said the act was “an anti-democratic piece of legislation which gave impunity to murderers and did nothing to bring about the reconciliation of people”.
The government also outlined plans in the King’s Speech to establish a new “council of the nations and regions”.
King Charles said this would “renew opportunities for the prime minister, heads of devolved governments and mayors of combined authorities to collaborate with each other”.
It is part of efforts by the government to “strengthen” its work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The King also said the Labour government would seek to “reset the relationship with European partners”.
It will “work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union”.
