"Blood on the carpet."
Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who holds the position of Minister for Military Personnel and Veterans, has restated his goal to fight prosecutions against British soldiers over actions carried out during The Troubles.
Mercer said that there would be "blood on the carpet," referring to his attempts to halt prosecutions such as those facing Soldier F for his role in Bloody Sunday. Mercer claims he has been specifically tasked with this job by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In a statement issued on his Facebook page on Thursday, Mercer said: "Big year ahead in this place. Cards on the table; priorities:
"End vexatious historical prosecutions. A defining issue for me; PM has tasked me with it... almost everyone says it can’t be done, including other ministers. There will be blood on the carpet, but blokes and girls deserve it. Crack on."
Mercer previously expressed disapproval over prospective prosecutions of Bloody Sunday soldiers, saying: "Justice? I'm not sure. Standards must be upheld, but charging people almost half a century after incidents which have already been investigated once already, seems wrong. Critical question for me is: any new evidence? If not, why is this being allowed."
As things stand, one member of the Parachute Regiment faces prosecution over the deaths that occurred on Bloody Sunday.
At the time, Minister for Defence Gavin Williams promised "full legal and pastoral support to the individual affected by today's decision [Soldier F] Troubles. This includes funding all his legal costs and providing welfare support."
