Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader Colum Eastwood MP has said a damning report on the British government’s legacy bill should result in the plans being scrapped.

He was speaking after a Westminster committee said the legislation was unlikely to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Eastwood said new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should drop the legislation, which has been opposed by all parties and victims’ groups in the North.

Foyle MP Mr Eastwood said:

“We have warned from the very start that this legislation would breach the human rights of victims in the North and across these islands, by allowing killers on both sides of the conflict to escape justice and stripping victims of their opportunity to seek convictions on behalf of themselves and their loved ones.

“This legislation is one of the few things that unites everyone in the North. Every political party, victim’s groups and the Irish government have been clear that these proposals cannot be allowed to proceed and now Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has urged the government to reconsider.

“Rishi Sunak has an opportunity to bin this legislation now, but if the Prime Minister turns down the chance to act in good faith we will continue fighting against this bill to ensure that every victim retains the right to pursue truth and justice. There can be no hiding place for those who carried out unspeakable acts during our troubled past and we cannot allow the British government to ignore the wishes of those who suffered most.”