Written Question
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Asked by:
Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answered by Hilary Benn
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I introduced the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on 14 October – a significant step in fulfilling our commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.
The Bill received its Second Reading yesterday, and I look forward to continued debate and scrutiny as it progresses through Parliament.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
"How confident is the Secretary of State that his provisions for preventing compensation for interim custody orders will withstand challenge in the courts, and would the Government’s case be undermined in any way by their decision not to challenge the original ruling in the High Court?..."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
"Even if the Supreme Court had opined on the matter and judged it to be incompatible, that would not have changed the law. This House is not required to respond in any way to a declaration of incompatibility by a court. This House remains supreme...."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
Written Question
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Asked by:
Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answered by Hilary Benn
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Last December, I laid a proposal for a draft remedial order in Parliament, representing the first step in fulfilling the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.
I am continuing to speak to all interested parties about our forthcoming primary legislation, which will ensure we have legacy mechanisms in place that are lawful and in which people can have confidence in.
Written Question
Wednesday 2nd April 2025
Asked by:
Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
What steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
Answered by Hilary Benn
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The approach taken by the previous Government to address legacy was wrong. It caused immense pain to victims and survivors, and in many respects has been found to be unlawful.
In December, I laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order in Parliament, to remedy the human rights deficiencies in the Act identified by the courts, and when parliamentary time allows, I will introduce primary legislation to implement other measures to ensure that the Government fulfils the commitments it has made.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 22 Jun 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"Q12. Taking back control is to apply to the European Court of Human Rights too, isn’t it?..."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 18 Nov 2020
Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals
"It will be essential to restore the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill to the status quo ante will it not?..."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Sep 2020
Northern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal Obligations
"For the avoidance of any doubt, is it the case that if the EU negotiators, including those on the Joint Committee, are prepared to move forward to implement the existing agreement in a workable way, these provisions will not be necessary?..."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal Obligations
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jan 2020
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
"I am alive to my hon. Friend’s concerns—indeed, I share them—but does not clause 26 provide protection by giving the Minister the power to make regulations that will have to go through this House? That is a statutory intervention, albeit not an Act of Parliament. It is by the will …..."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jan 2020
European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
"Throughout the proceedings yesterday the Labour Back Benches were empty. For half the time there was only one Member there—Labour’s only surviving Eurosceptic—but for most of the time there was nobody there at all and we ended up finishing early, such was Labour’s determination to provide scrutiny...."Desmond Swayne - View Speech
View all Desmond Swayne (Con - New Forest West) contributions to the debate on: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill