Kemi Badenoch faces backlash for sharing post celebrating British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

The post has since been deleted.

The Conservative leader described the soldiers as those who 'risked their lives to protect others'. The video featured clips taken on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972.

Thirteen people were shot dead when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civilians in the city. A 14th person died of their injuries months later in hospital.

In her post, Kemi wrote: "Our veterans defended us. Now it is time we defended them."

Her post was in response to the Labour's Troubles bill which aims to replace the Tory Legacy Act offering conditional amnesty to those accused of killings and bringing an end to Troubles-related inquests.

If made law, Labours bill will end the controversial conditional immunity scheme.

Tories have attacked the changes, and Badenoch said in her video: “Think about the men and women who served this country during the Troubles. People who risked their lives to protect others. To defend our nation. To keep the peace.

“Now ask yourself, is it right that decades later they’re dragged back into court? Because that’s exactly what Labour’s new bill will do.”

SDLP MP Colum Eastwood said he was 'shocked' by the imagery used in Badenoch's post.

He said: “It is disgusting, disgraceful and it is an insult to the innocent civil rights protesters who were murdered.

“Worse, the promo video is entirely about elevating the interests of British soldiers over the needs of victims and survivors who have been forced to fight against the power and might of the British state for decades seeking truth, justice and accountability for their loved ones.

“Even by the partisan standards of most Tory MPs on issues relating to the past in Northern Ireland, this is absolutely appalling.

“We’re a long way away from former Prime Minister David Cameron’s powerful apology for the actions of soldiers on that day. My thoughts are with the families of the murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday. They have been forced to endure decades of pain and struggle but have maintained immense dignity throughout.”