Cameron to clamp down on 'spurious' claims against UK forces

The Prime Minister says he wants to stamp out an "industry trying to profit" from baseless claims against serving military personnel and veterans.

FRIDAY 22 JANUARY 2016

Ministers on the National Security Council are drawing up plans, which could include measures to curb the use of "no win, no fee" arrangements used by law firms pursuing actions against service personnel.

Plans to introduce a residence test requiring people to have lived in this country for 12 months before applying for legal aid could also be brought forward. Law firms found to have abused the system could also face tougher penalties.

The announcement comes after the firm Leigh Day was referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for allegedly failing to disclose a key document to the Al-Sweady Inquiry into alleged war crimes by British forces in Iraq.

The £31m inquiry concluded that allegations of war crimes following the Battle of Danny Boy in May 2004 in southern Iraq were based on "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility".

Once disciplinary proceedings have been completed against any firm, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been ordered to attempt to recover as much taxpayers' money spent on the inquiry as possible.

A Downing Street source said: "It would be unprecedented for the Government to sue a law firm in this way - but if they are found to have acted improperly, then it will be the right thing to do. The public, and the soldiers who have been subject to malicious lies, would expect nothing less."

'No one is above the law'  

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