BOYLE LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER TO NEW BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE REPEAL OF TROUBLES ACT

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02) today led a bipartisan letter, also co-signed by 24 other Members of Congress, to new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulating him on his recent election victory and urging his new government to swiftly repeal Britain's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, or "Troubles Act."

The Troubles Act, which became law in 2023, severely undermines the Good Friday Agreement and denies justice to countless families across Northern Ireland who were impacted by violence during the Troubles. In response to the enactment of this law, the Irish government launched an Inter-State application against the United Kingdom before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

In the Labour Party's 2024 General Election Manifesto, the party committed to repealing and replacing this harmful legislation. In the letter, the House members urged PM Starmer to uphold the values agreed upon in the Good Friday Agreement to ensure the victims violence from the Troubles receive the justice they deserve:

Dear Prime Minister,
We wish to offer our sincere congratulations on your recent election as Prime Minister and the broad success of the Labour Party during the July 4th election. As you assume this critical role at a consequential moment in Europe's history, we look forward to working with your government to strengthen the relationship between our two nations and improve the lives of our citizens.
We were pleased to see that in the Labour Party's 2024 General Election manifesto released in June, you committed to repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, "Legacy Act." In that manifesto, it is written, "The Legacy Act denies justice to the families and victims of the Troubles. Labour will repeal and replace it, by returning to the principles of the Stormont House Agreement, and seeking support from all communities in Northern Ireland." We could not agree more.
This law severely undermines the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, the bedrock of peace in Northern Ireland. As Members of Congress who understand and respect the pivotal role that the United States played in coming to this Agreement, we feel compelled to voice our strong support that your government remains committed to swiftly repealing and replacing the Legacy Act.
Since its passage in 2023, justice has been denied to families across all communities in Northern Ireland who were impacted by violence during the Troubles. The Labour Party's 2024 General Election manifesto acknowledges this damage and the disservice to victims and their families this law has caused. Those that participated in violence during the Troubles must be held accountable. We urge your government to restore genuine paths to justice for the number of outstanding cases where evidence and potential criminal liability remains. Victims and their families, from all communities, still deserve justice.
Prime Minister Starmer, once again, congratulations on your election. We are hopeful that new leadership in Westminster will return to the values agreed upon in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement and ensure victims of violence from the Troubles receive justice and perpetrators of crimes committed during the Troubles are held accountable. We look forward to working with you and commit to supporting this effort in any way we can.

A full copy of the letter can be found HERE