In the House of Lords

I said at Second Reading that I generally welcome the reforms in this Bill. They nearly conclude the long journey since the Findlay human rights case in 1995 towards founding the service justice system on justice rather than, as it has been historically, on discipline. We have finally buried the Mutiny Act, under which General [Edward] Braddock in the Seven Years’ War could issue the order of the day:

“Any Soldier who shall desert tho’ he return again will be hanged without mercy.”

This amendment is designed to complete the journey towards justice.

Lord Thomas of Gresford, in the House of Lords debate on the Armed Forces Bill, Nov. 23, 2021, available here.