Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Second Reading

Tuesday, 18 November 2025 · Division No. 359 · Commons

320Ayes

–

105Noes

Passed

222 MPs did not vote

cross-cuttingGovernment wonNorthern Ireland Legacy Reform(Yes)Pro Victims Rights(No)Pro Good Friday Agreement(Yes)Pro Northern Ireland Devolution(No)

Voting Yes means

Support the new Labour government's approach to dealing with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles, allowing the Bill to proceed to further scrutiny in Parliament

Voting No means

Oppose the Bill proceeding, with concerns including that it fails to cover atrocities such as the Omagh bombing and does not adequately serve all victims' families

What happened: The House of Commons voted on 18 November 2025 to give the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill its Second Reading, meaning the bill can now proceed to detailed scrutiny in committee. The vote passed by 320 ayes to 105 noes. A Second Reading is the first substantive parliamentary vote on a bill, where the House decides whether to support its general principles rather than its specific details.

Why it matters: The bill seeks to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, passed by the previous Conservative government, with a new framework for addressing unresolved cases from the Northern Ireland conflict. In practical terms, it would repeal the conditional immunity scheme introduced by the 2023 Act, restore civil claims and inquests that were halted by that Act, and reform the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. The bill also proposes to establish an international body with the Irish Government to help families retrieve information about what happened to their loved ones. It affects thousands of families who lost relatives during the Troubles, veterans of Operation Banner, and the wider legacy institutions currently operating in Northern Ireland.

The politics: The vote divided sharply along party lines, with Labour and Labour Co-operative MPs voting almost entirely in favour, while Conservatives, Reform UK, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Ulster Unionist Party, and Traditional Unionist Voice all voted against. Three independents voted on each side. The Greens and the SDLP supported the bill. The Conservative opposition tabled a wrecking amendment at Second Reading, arguing the bill would expose veterans to prosecution while leaving former paramilitaries largely untouched. This bill follows a related vote in January 2026 on a remedial order to address parts of the 2023 Act found to be incompatible with human rights law, which passed 373 to 106, indicating broad and consistent government support for its overall direction on legacy policy.

How They Voted

Government position: Aye

Labour PartyWhipped Aye

281 Aye/0 No

Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped No

0 Aye/89 No

Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped Aye

32 Aye/0 No

Reform UKWhipped No

0 Aye/7 No

Independent

3 Aye/3 No

Democratic Unionist PartyWhipped No

0 Aye/5 No

Green Party of England and WalesWhipped Aye

3 Aye/0 No

Social Democratic and Labour Party

2 Aye/0 No

Traditional Unionist Voice

0 Aye/1 No

Ulster Unionist Party

0 Aye/1 No

What They Said in the Debate

Alex Burghart

Conservative · Brentwood and Ongar

Opposed

Moved reasoned amendment to reject Second Reading. Argued the Bill removes workable conditional immunity scheme, exposes veterans to vexatious prosecutions while paramilitaries escape justice, provides only illusory protections, and risks recruitment and morale; contended the 2023 Act was legally sound and should have been appealed rather than dropped.

Voted No

David Davis

Conservative · Goole and Pocklington

Opposed

Strongly opposed the Bill as persecution of patriotic soldiers; argued the process itself is punishment; attacked government for double standard—de facto amnesty given to 650 IRA terrorists under Blair, while 300,000 soldiers now face relentless legal pursuit; called for honouring armed forces rather than pursuing them.

Voted No

Gavin Robinson

Democratic Unionist Party · Belfast East

Questioning

Raised concern that the Bill's date range excludes the Omagh bombing (August 1998), the largest atrocity of the Troubles; pressed Secretary of State on whether dates should be extended and whether Omagh families will have recourse.

Voted No

Jim Shannon

Democratic Unionist Party · Strangford

Questioning

Raised concerns about Irish Government and Gardaí collusion in historical killings; pressed for assurance that justice will be delivered through the Bill; questioned whether Irish co-operation will be meaningful.

Voted No

Paul Kohler

Liberal Democrat · Wimbledon

Neutral

Welcomed intent to repeal the failed 2023 Act but argued the Bill does not go far enough on veteran protections; called for binding statutory safeguards including clearer presumption against repeated investigations, expanded duty on operational context, and enhanced parliamentary oversight before supporting Second Reading.

Tonia Antoniazzi

Labour · Gower

Neutral

Chair of Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; welcomed the Bill's intent but highlighted that stakeholders felt 'listened to, not heard'; emphasised need for confidence-building; noted resourcing concerns for the new commission given expanded responsibilities including coronial cases.

Voted Aye

Hilary Benn

Labour · Leeds South

Supportive

As Secretary of State, moved Second Reading. Defended the Bill as necessary replacement for the failed 2023 legacy Act; emphasised enhanced protections for veterans including protection from repeat investigations, remote evidence-giving, and anonymity; argued the Bill enables Irish Government co-operation and restores rule of law while offering no immunity.

Voted Aye

Paul Foster

Labour · South Ribble

Supportive

As veteran and backbencher, supported the Bill; rejected immunity as dangerous and weakening justice; defended the legislation's veteran protections as meaningful; argued previous focus on armed forces rather than paramilitaries was disproportionate but this Bill corrects that balance.

Voted Aye