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Armed Forces Bill

Let me finish this point. In human rights legislation, we require individual soldiers to exercise their own judgment as a duty. Mention has been made of Nuremberg, but this was an issue before then, and it goes well beyond Nuremberg. There is a duty placed on each of us, as individuals in a democratic society—but in particular on soldiers and members of the military—to exercise judgment about whether what we do is right and lawful. I reiterate the point that, whatever debates take place in this or any other Parliament, they do not override that individual duty. Amendment No. 8 clarifies the situation concerning military occupation. More importantly, amendment No. 9 emphasises the fact that life imprisonment is a disproportionate sentence that does not relate to the reality of a modern Army—an Army that is based upon volunteers and professionals, and which, as we all agree, is in most instances motivated by moral courage. Such an Army should not be motivated by, or threatened by, fear of such a sanction. On that basis, I shall press amendment No. 9 to a Division. However, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed: No. 9, in page 5, line 18, leave out from ‘offence' to ‘must' in line 20.—[John McDonnell.] Question put, That the amendment be made:— Clause 8 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 9 to 34 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.