Tobias Ellwood says a line should be drawn under killings carried out by armed forces

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood has reopened the row in government about investigations into killings carried out by members of the armed forces during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, calling for a statute of limitations to apply.

Ellwood’s boss – the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson – was overruled by Number 10 last month, after signalling he would like to see a line drawn under investigations of the historic killings.

A consultation was subsequently published by the Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, which omitted any mention of a statute of limitations.

But speaking to John Pienaar on Radio 5 Live, Ellwood, who himself served in the armed forces in Northern Ireland, said: “It does make sense to draw a line at some point to say that investigations have taken place to their conclusion and unless there’s compelling evidence put forward to a very high court that you, that we then close the books on that particular matter.”

“There is a consultation taking place, these arguments I think will be put into that consultation and I hope common sense will then prevail because at the moment you are hearing of the historic allegations team, this Northern Ireland operation, you know, knocking on doors of people who are now in their 80s asking questions. That cannot be how we should look after our veterans.”

Asked about the fact that his remarks appeared to be in conflict with the approach set out in the government’s own consultation, he said: “I can submit my own thoughts into the consultation as can others and I think parliament is also doing so.”

As part of the Stormont House agreement in 2014, the government established a historical investigations unit to look into unsolved murders.

But with the power-sharing government at Stormont suspended, discussions about how it should operate have been deadlocked.

A number of Conservative backbenchers, including Julian Lewis and Johnny Mercer, have expressed concerns that the availability of detailed written records makes it easier for veterans of the armed forces to be prosecuted than members of paramilitary groups.

Theresa May told MPs last month the way the system works is “patently unfair”. The consultation document subsequently published by the government said the new unit would be expected to examine around 1,700 cases but did not suggest limiting its scope.

Many of these cases were left outstanding when the historic enquiry team, set up in 2005 to investigate unsolved murders committed during the Troubles, was closed in 2014.

Ellwood’s remarks appear to be the latest example of ministers speaking their minds on the matter rather than toeing the government line.

He also echoed Williamson’s repeated calls for an increase in defence spending, suggesting it should take priority over other key areas such as the NHS and education.

“Our security, our economy is intertwined with security,” he said. “The very access to the markets that we now need post-Brexit are closing down around us because of the insurgent activities of China and Russia and so forth.

“We need strong defence to guarantee security that then guarantees our economy that then guarantees the money, the taxes that come in to be able to pay for all the other Whitehall departments.”