Labour ministers are accused of betrayal over the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Labour ministers were accused of 'betrayal' on Monday night after MPs warned they were not given enough time to debate the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Critics said the Bill – replacing the Tories' Legacy Act, which gave soldiers immunity against vexatious prosecutions – cannot be properly scrutinised after it returned to Parliament on Monday.

Furious former top brass and MPs also criticised the scheduling, claiming crucial amendments would not be assessed effectively.

They said the Bill threatened to 'weaponise' the law against troops and let lawyers representing IRA paramilitaries use loopholes to bring cases that drag soldiers to court repeatedly.

It came after the Troubles Bill returned to the Commons with more than 300 amendments proposed by the Government and its opponents. 

Retired generals Sir Nick Parker and Sir Peter Wall said: 'Ministers' professed 'unshakeable' commitment to those very people who fought the IRA to a standstill is a sham.

'Our only hope now is to seek amendments when the Bill moves to the Lords. There is more than a whiff of betrayal around this Bill.'

Tory Northern Ireland spokesman Alex Burghart described Government claims that the Bill had been given optimal time to be debated as 'laughable'.

He told MPs: 'This is one of the most complex and controversial pieces of legislation this House will debate in this Parliament. Yet the House will have very little time for detailed scrutiny.'

Tory MP Julian Smith agreed, saying: 'We are going to consider over 300 amendments in two days. This is a ridiculous situation. This is people's lives.'

But Northern Ireland minister Sarah Owen said: 'Almost three decades on from the Good Friday Agreement, the issue of the legacy of the Troubles remains unresolved. After years of bereaved families being let down, this may be our last chance to get it right.'

Labour claims the Bill is necessary because the Legacy Act was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

It was introduced to Parliament last year following agreement on a joint framework with the Irish government.

However, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant conceded in the Commons that a Sinn Fein government in Dublin could scrap the deal.

Veterans are also opposed to the Bill as several inquests previously stayed by the Legacy Act are set to continue.

Labour claimed the Bill would 'significantly reduce' the prospect of veterans facing 'rinse and repeat' investigations.

It leaves the decision on new criminal probes into soldiers' actions with the Attorney General. Veterans want it made by a Supreme Court judge as the Attorney General is a political appointee who may not be unbiased.

QUENTIN LETTS: The veterans, some superbly whiskered, stiffened their spines as Kipling was quoted