Conservative Leader Issues Apology Over Bloody Sunday Footage
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has issued an apology after a video opposing reforms to the Legacy Act, which included footage of soldiers during Bloody Sunday, was posted on her social media account.
The video, shared on Tuesday, depicts soldiers entering the Bogside area of Londonderry on 30 January 1972.
On that day, thirteen people were shot dead when the British Army opened fire on civil rights demonstrators. Last year, a former Paratrooper was acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges related to the events of Bloody Sunday.
The Conservative Party released an apology on Friday, stating the video was removed "as soon as we were made aware of the footage."
'Video Went Out in Error'
Speaking to PA News on Saturday, Badenoch explained that the video was shared "in error." Asked about the clip while in south-east London, she said:
"I have apologised. I did not sign off the video.
It was about a vote in parliament where Labour are putting in legislation that is hounding the very elderly veterans for things that happened decades ago, often under the instruction of political leaders who are no longer around.
We support our veterans, but the video was done by very young people who did not recognise the footage as being from Bloody Sunday.
So I apologise as well that that video went out in error.
It was removed as soon as the party understood that that was what had been put out."
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood condemned the use of the footage, describing it as "disgusting and disgraceful." He welcomed the apology but urged Badenoch to personally apologise to the survivors and families of Bloody Sunday victims.
The video had been published across several Conservative Party social media platforms and on Badenoch's X account before its removal on Friday.
On the same day, the Conservative Party, whose former leader David Cameron had issued a public apology for the soldiers' actions on Bloody Sunday, reiterated that the video was taken down "as soon as we were made aware of the footage." A party spokesman told NI:
"We apologise for the inclusion of this material, which should not have been used and will not be used again."
What is the Legacy Bill?
Labour's legislation, The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, seeks to replace the controversial Legacy Act, which introduced a ban on inquests and civil actions related to incidents from the Troubles era.
The bill aims to repeal and replace the previous Conservative government's legislation.
In September last year, London and Dublin agreed on a joint framework ahead of the UK government's efforts to replace the existing legacy act.
The proposed changes have been criticised by all political parties and victims' groups in Northern Ireland.
The government has faced pressure from veterans and some Members of Parliament who argue that the legislation does not provide sufficient protections for veterans.
On Tuesday, the government passed a carry-over motion allowing the bill to continue its passage through Parliament following prorogation, although the exact date for parliamentary debate remains unclear.
