Retired British Army General Sir Nick Parker has criticised the Labour government's proposed bill on Troubles legacy issues. He spoke ahead of the 28th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.

Parker, who commanded the last troop withdrawal from Northern Ireland streets as General Officer Commanding for Operation Banner, called the focus on individual soldiers since 1998 wholly inappropriate. He stated soldiers acted under chain of command and should not face accountability without new evidence.

The general described veterans as scapegoats for insufficient political leadership on Troubles legacy matters. He argued the bill fails to address a strategic risk to national security by eroding soldiers' willingness to serve.

Parker said current soldiers might hesitate to perform duties if past legal actions could lead to future prosecution. He noted the 1998 Belfast Agreement contained deliberate ambiguity intended to draw a line under past events.

Army generals, including Parker, propose changes to the bill. These include no new prosecutions for Troubles incidents without fresh evidence and a presumption of good faith in following orders.

Civil cases would end absent new evidence or prior criminal convictions. Parker clarified generals seek no blanket immunity, only accountability where Supreme Court-assessed evidence shows wrongdoing.

The government states its bill replaces the prior Conservative Legacy Act, rejected by Northern Ireland's main parties. It enables reciprocal information sharing with the Irish state, unlike the previous law.