Tory bill 'to protect troops' will make it tougher for them to get compensation from MoD

Exclusive: New figures obtained by shadow Defence Secretary John Healey show that for every claim of mistreatment by British soldiers in warzones there are 25 against the MoD for injury or negligence by the soldiers themselves

Planned MoD changes to compensation payments are more about saving money than protecting our frontline troops.

New figures obtained by shadow Defence Secretary John Healey show that for every claim of mistreatment by British soldiers in warzones there are 25 against the MoD for injury or negligence by the soldiers themselves.

Ministers claim their new Overseas Operations Bill will protect troops by making it harder to prosecute them for serious crimes such as torture.

But it will also set a six year time limit for soldiers to make their own claims, which means they will have fewer rights than convicted criminals.

In 15 years the MoD settled 300 claims totalling £20million by Iraqis alleging ill treatment by British troops.

But over the same period between 2004-19 they paid out £752million to soldiers in 21,000 employer liability claims.

The MoD also settled a total of 82,800 common law claims which would have included people injured by being hit by an MoD car or hearing loss caused by the noise of low flying aircraft.

Mr Healey said: “This is an MoD protection bill which does more to cover it against legal costs than to protect British troops from baseless litigation.

“No one who has served our country should suffer the misery of vexatious litigation and repeat investigation.

“But Labour wants legislation which protects not penalises our troops overseas.”

The party’s MPs will vote against the Bill at its final reading if changes are not made.

The MoD pays out an average £35,700 for every employer liability case it settles.

And Defence minister Johnny Mercer said that 97 per cent of claims were heard within six years.