Julian Knight MP has welcomed the news that a law firm which made millions by taking British servicemen and women to court on false pretences will close.
Birmingham-based Public Interest Lawyers made the announcement after the Legal Aid Agency ruled that it had breached contractual requirements.
Previously it had represented complainants at the Al-Sweady Inquiry, which eventually ruled that some of its war crimes allegations were based on “deliberate lies, reckless speculation, and ingrained hostility”.
Julian has been proud to be a strong supporter of the Armed Forces since his election last May.
In January he addressed a Special Westminster Debate on the decision of the Iraq Historical Allegations Team to drop almost 60 cases of alleged unlawful killing, in which he called on the Government to take firm action against ‘tank chasing’ law firms.
Responding to the news, Julian Knight said:
“We owe a great debt to the men and women of our Armed Forces who risk so much on our behalf. It is absolutely disgraceful that innocent veterans are being hounded through the courts by profit-seeking lawyers.
“This Government takes its obligations to our troops seriously, most notably by giving legal force to the Military Covenant. But protecting them from malicious lawsuits is just as important, and I’m very pleased to see swift action delivering decisive results.”