Letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, MP
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, MP
Office of the Prime Minister
No. 10 Downing Street
London
United Kingdom
SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister Starmer:
The Irish American Unity Conference (“IAUC”) would like to congratulate you and your Labour Party on their impressive victory in the July 4 elections. The mandate you have been given affirms the determination of the British people to reject the negative, cruel policies of the Tories, and presents a real opportunity for you to lead the UK into a more enlightened era.
The IAUC is a non-partisan, non-sectarian human rights organization whose primary mission is advocating for the peaceful political unification of Ireland, consistent with the referendum provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. As an adjunct of this mission, we actively work for justice and peace in Ireland.
I write now, on behalf of our membership, to urge you to fulfill your pre-election promise to repeal and revoke the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, (“Legacy Act”) without delay. As you are aware, the Legacy Act was passed by the Conservative Party at the insistence of veterans organizations. The Legacy Act was opposed by every political party in Northern Ireland, unionist as well as nationalist. It was also opposed by a litany of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Relatives for Justice, and the UN Commission on Human Rights, and an array of victims organizations in Northern Ireland. You will also be aware that the Government of Ireland has filed proceedings with the European Court of Human Rights against the UK to overturn the legislation.
The Stormont House Agreement of 2014 establishes a process for dealing with the past in a manner that was agreed on by the UK and Ireland and endorsed by the two main parties in the North of Ireland. The UK’s support for the legacy provisions of the SHA was reiterated in its Forward to the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015. In the New Decade, New Approach agreement in 2020, the UK Government again promised “to implement the Stormont House Agreement, to address Northern Ireland legacy issues.” (New Decade, New Approach, Annex A: UK Government Commitments to Northern Ireland).
The IAUC remains steadfast in its support of the Stormont House Agreement. Specifically, the procedures established in the SHA should be considered the proper mechanism for dealing with the past. Upon repeal of the Legacy Act, no new or amended legislation is called for. Rather, the IAUC respectfully urges that the UK Government re-commit to the SHA’s legacy provisions.
The Legacy Act is a dark stain on the British Government and nation. With right-wing populism and its fellow travelers hatred, bigotry, and brutality on the rise in many regions of the world, you could send a strong signal that the UK repudiates such nefarious ideologies.
Consistent with your record, we strongly request that you reverse the Legacy Act by either (1) immediately enacting legislation which specifically revokes it, or (2) advising the European Court, in consultation with the Irish Government, that the UK supports Ireland’s petition.
We extend to you all good wishes for a successful and productive tenure as leader of the British Parliament.
Peter C. Kissel
National President
Irish American Unity Conference
5604 Utah Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20015
202-262-4785
pckissel47@gmail.com www.iauc.org
CC:
Hilary Benn
Peter Kyle
