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Article: Labour denies delay on pardons for First World War deserters
- Article from:
- The Scotsman
- Article date:
- March 23, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1998 The Scotsman. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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BRITISH soldiers shot for cowardice or desertion during the First
World War may all be exonerated in a way which falls short of a full
pardon.
John Reid, the armed forces minister, was accused yesterday by a
Labour MP of dragging his feet over a review which will determine
whether to grant pardons to the soldiers.
Mr Reid denied that Labour was backtracking on a pre-election
promise, saying that the party had committed itself in opposition to
a review rather than a blanket pardon for the soldiers. He said it
had not been decided whether to grant individual pardons, and by
implication recondemn some of those who were shot.
Alternatively, there was the possibility of a blanket exoneration ...