Votes · October 2026 · Northern Ireland Troubles Bill · Amendment

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill Committee: New Clause 21: how MPs voted on 19 October 2026

Division 95, 19 October 2026, 23:04. The Commons Votes API gives 167 Ayes, 327 Noes: majority 160 for the Noes.

The question

New Clause 21

Protection for conduct carried out in accordance with contemporaneous Rules of Engagement in respect of Troubles-related conduct

“(1) No criminal investigations, prosecutions, inquests or inquiries shall be commenced in respect of Troubles-related conduct carried out in Northern Ireland by—

(a) His Majesty’s Armed Forces (including the United Kingdom Special Forces),

(b) the Secret Intelligence Services,

(c) the Government Communications Headquarters,

(d) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(e) the Police Service of Northern Ireland,

unless the condition in subsection (2) has been met.

(2) The condition is that—

(a) there is new and compelling evidence, that was not available at the time of the conduct in question; and

(b) the evidence has been certified as “new and compelling” by a Supreme Court Judge.

(3) In any legal proceedings, it is to be presumed that individual personnel acted in good faith and in belief of the lawfulness of the Rules of Engagement and orders they received, unless—

(a) the condition in subsection (2) has been met; and

(b) the prosecution can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the conduct was unlawful.

(4) No civil action against any party identified in subsection (1) shall be commenced, unless in a prior criminal case related to the conduct in question—

(a) the condition in subsection (2) was met; and

(b) a criminal conviction against that specific party in relation to conduct in question was obtained.

(5) Where it can be shown that the operational directives or Rules of Engagement given to a party listed in subsection (1) were unlawful under the domestic law that was in force at the time of the conduct in question, criminal or disciplinary investigations, or proceedings, may only be commenced, or continued, against those individuals who authorised, or approved, the Rules of Engagement or directives, and not against individual service members who acted in good faith in following those directives.”—(Mr Francois.)

Brought up,

Question put, That the clause be added to the Bill.

As printed in Hansard before the division.

By party

Conservative MPs cast 96 of the 166 named Aye votes; Labour MPs 316 of the 324 named No votes.

Tellers: John Cooper (Conservative, Dumfries and Galloway) and Lincoln Jopp (Conservative, Spelthorne) (Ayes); Michael Wheeler (Labour, Worsley and Eccles) and Emma Foody (Labour, Cramlington and Killingworth) (Noes).

How each MP voted

490 named · CSV

Sources

• Bill: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
• Hansard: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
• Commons division 95
• Commons Votes API: division fcb810b4104cdab2 23 October 2026
• Hansard API: division search 34df8aa09a838762 23 October 2026
• Hansard API: debate 075d4235aebe46f9 23 October 2026

SHA-256 of each copy read. Open Parliament Licence v3.0

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