Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon's call for lawyer Phil Shiner to apologise to Iraq War veterans and a manufacturing and support contract to build two more Offshore Patrol Vessels lead this morning's defence news.
Human rights lawyers
Following a disciplinary tribunal, most national newspapers report that the Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, has called for lawyer Phil Shiner to apologise to Iraq War veterans
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
Phil Shiner made the lives of soldiers a misery by pursing false allegations of torture and murder. It was on behalf of those soldiers that we complained about Mr Shiner’s actions and finally he has admitted he was reckless and acted without integrity. He should now apologise to the soldiers whose reputations he attempted to traduce.
OPV Contract
The Telegraph and the Glasgow Evening Times reports that the MOD has signed a manufacturing and support contract worth £287 million to build two more Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Royal Navy, safeguarding hundreds of Scottish jobs.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said:
This contract will deliver two more modern Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey, for the Royal Navy and safeguard vital shipbuilding skills and hundreds of jobs in Scotland.
Protected by a rising Defence budget, the OPV programme is an important part of the Government’s £178 billion plan to ensure our armed forces have the equipment they need.
Read more here.
Northern Ireland
The Daily Mail and the Sun continue to report that former servicemen who served in Northern Ireland may face investigations into their role in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
An MOD spokesperson said:
The overwhelming majority of those who served in Northern Ireland did so with great bravery and distinction. Any member of the military affected by this process will rightly be supported throughout and will receive free MOD legal representation
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