UK

Chief Coroner battle won after RBL fight

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The coalition Government has backed down over plans to scrap the post of Chief Coroner to oversee military inquests.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke confirmed the move last night after heavy opposition from the Royal British Legion and the threat of a rebellion when the changes in the Public Bodies Bill come before the House of Lords today.

Mr Clarke said in a statement: "Over recent months I have listened to and reflected on the concerns raised across Parliament, by families and by other groups, including the Royal British Legion, that a single figure needs to be responsible for the coroner system.

"I am prepared to have one last try to meet those arguments and so have taken the decision to implement the office of the chief coroner.

"The existing mechanisms for challenging a coroner's decision will remain in place and will avoid the need for expensive new appeal rights. The new post will be focused on working to deliver the reform to coroners' services that we all want to see and which I previously argued should be delivered by the Lord Chief Justice and myself.

"Everyone is agreed that the priority is raising the standards of coroners' inquiries and inquests to ensure that bereaved families are satisfied with the whole process.

"I am therefore giving the chief coroner the full range of powers to drive up standards, including coroner training, as well as setting minimum standards of service through the new Charter."

Yesterday Downing Street hinted at a U-turn, saying David Cameron was "sympathetic" to service families' concerns.

The Royal British Legion fought a year-long campaign to save the post, introduced by the former Labour government to streamline inquests and make it easier and quicker for families of troops killed in action to find out how they died.

War widow Kirianne Curley, from Exeter, whose Royal Marine husband Corporal Stephen Curley was killed at the age of 26 by a bomb in Afghanistan last year, was among those who wrote to the Prime Minister pleading for a rethink.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: "The country expected the Government to keep to their promise and honour our troops, but that didn't happen.

"The Government were on to a loser by taking on public opinion, the Royal British Legion and the views of Parliament. They have been forced into a climbdown. They are doing the right thing but for the wrong reasons.

"The post of chief coroner will create an independent and expert coronial system for all bereaved families and will help drive up standards. The detail of this decision is very important and we will want to see specifics.

"The Royal British Legion deserve huge praise for a brilliant campaign."

EXTRA

Families of those killed on military service should not be given "an endless right of appeal" against the rulings of inquests into their relatives' deaths, the Prime Minister said today following the Government's decision to appoint a chief coroner.

David Cameron said it would not be in the interests of families of those who had died in combat if they could continually re-appeal against inquest findings into how their loved ones died.

In the Commons the Prime Minister said he was "delighted" about the changes but said the Government did not think it a good idea to allow families to make endless appeals against the findings of inquests for military personnel.

He said: "I think the one thing that we should try and avoid, because all of us want to do the right thing for those soldiers and their families who have given so much to our country - I don't think having an endless right of appeal after inquests would be a good idea. I think that would actually damage the interests of families."

The Royal British Legion has welcomed as a victory for bereaved military families the Government’s change of heart allowing the Chief Coroner to be appointed.

“We’re delighted common sense has prevailed,” said Legion Director General Chris Simpkins. “This is a victory for The Royal British Legion on behalf of all bereaved Armed Forces families and for the many bereaved organisation groups that have campaigned on this issue.”

“All the same, we are disappointed that the Government will not implement appeal provisions to the Chief Coroner and will watch the debate on this issue in the House of Lords this afternoon with interest.”

His comments came after meetings with officials at Number 10 Downing Street to explain a surprise announcement made by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke late Tuesday that the Chief Coroner would not be abolished as a cost-cutting measure.

“We have been campaigning hard on this for a year,” Mr Simpkins added. “The Government’s welcome support for our campaign keeps faith with the fallen and with the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant.”

He continued: “The Government’s decision to appoint an independent Chief Coroner means that bereaved military families will have the confidence of knowing an impartial judge will provide essential independent leadership to the inquest system, ensuring that its proceedings are thorough, efficient and fair.”

While the proposed office will not have provision for military families to appeal coroner’s verdicts through the Chief Coroner, Mr Simpkins acknowledged that the Chief Coroner would be able to comment on appeals procedures in his annual report.

“We’re not backing down on the right to appeal,” he said. “The Government says that bereaved families need closure. We say that they need closure in the certain knowledge that their loss has been investigated to their satisfaction.”