Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservative Party, removed a pro-veteran video that featured clips from Bloody Sunday from her social media accounts following backlash on Friday.
Colum Eastwood, SDLP MP for Foyle in Northern Ireland, led the criticism of Badenoch's video, which was posted to her social media pages on Tuesday.
In the video, Badenoch says: "Think about the men and women who served this country during The Troubles.
"People who risked their lives to protect others. To defend our nation. To keep the peace.
"Now ask yourself: Is it right that decades later, they're dragged back into court?
"Because that's exactly what Labour's new Bill will do. It'll put elderly veterans through fresh legal battles at the end of their lives.
"This is not justice.
"In government, we passed laws to protect our veterans because Britain should stand behind our veterans, not put them on trial decades later.
"If Labour pushes this through, Conservative MPs will vote to block it, and a future Conservative government will repeal it.
"Our veterans defended us. Now it's time we defend them.
"If you agree, stand with us at BackOurVeterans.com."
While the video has been removed from Badenoch's social media, it is still available to view via RTÉ News.
Badenoch's video message comes in response to the UK Labour Party's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which aims to repeal and replace the controversial Legacy Act introduced by the previous Conservative government. If enacted, Labour's Troubles Bill will end the controversial immunity scheme in the Legacy Act.
The video featuring the Bloody Sunday clip, reportedly from the UK-based ITN Archive, was posted on Badenoch's social media pages on April 28, but was taken down on Friday.
According to the Derry Journal, Badenoch's video showed British soldiers running up William Street to the corner of Chamberlain Street on January 30, 1972, now known as Bloody Sunday.
On that day, British paratroopers opened fire on a peaceful protest organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, which was protesting the poor treatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland. 13 people were killed on the day, while another person died months later after being shot in the leg.
Decades later in 2010, following Lord Saville's Bloody Sunday Inquiry, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong."
Last October, a former British paratrooper known publicly as Soldier F was found not guilty of murder and attempted murder on Bloody Sunday. He was the only British soldier to face prosecution over the events of Bloody Sunday.
"Disgusting, deeply offensive"
Responding to Badenoch's video on Friday, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood wrote on social media: "I’m astounded that @KemiBadenoch used footage of soldiers in Derry during Bloody Sunday in this video promoting the actions of the British Army.
"It’s disgusting, deeply offensive and an insult to the innocent civil rights protestors who soldiers killed that day."
I’m astounded that @KemiBadenoch used footage of soldiers in Derry during Bloody Sunday in this video promoting the actions of the British Army.
It’s disgusting, deeply offensive and an insult to the innocent civil rights protestors who soldiers killed that day. https://t.co/dmoiE0HiEW
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) May 1, 2026
Eastwood further told the Derry Journal: “I am shocked, frankly, that Kemi Badenoch has posted a video trumpeting the service of British soldiers in Northern Ireland using footage from Bloody Sunday. It is disgusting, disgraceful, and it is an insult to the innocent civil rights protesters who were murdered in Derry in January 1972.
“Worse, the promo video is entirely about elevating the interests of British soldiers over the needs of victims and survivors who have been forced to fight against the power and might of the British state for decades seeking truth, justice, and accountability for their loved ones.
"Even by the partisan standards of most Tory MPs on issues relating to the past in Northern Ireland, this is absolutely appalling."
Eastwood added: “We’re a long way away from former Prime Minister David Cameron’s powerful apology for the actions of soldiers on that day.
"My thoughts are with the families of the murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday. They have been forced to endure decades of pain and struggle, but have maintained immense dignity throughout."
Tony Doherty, Chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust, also told the Derry Journal: "This is grossly insulting to the families and the people of Derry, and many other places in the north, who know only too well what role of the British army meant for them. It meant murder, lies, and cover-up of many crimes that have never ever seen the inside of a courtroom."
Apology
Later on Friday, a spokesperson for The Conservatives issued a brief statement: “As soon as we were made aware of the footage, the video was taken down.
“We apologise for the inclusion of this material, which should not have been used and will not be used again.”
Responding to the Conservatives' apology, Eastwood said: "Kemi Badenoch has now been forced to delete the appalling video.
"She should apologise directly to the Bloody Sunday families and acknowledge that the politics of prioritising the interests of soldiers over the needs of victims is wrong."
Doherty said on social media:" Kemi Badenoch has now deleted her grossly insulting video supporting amnesty for the crimes of British soldiers in Ireland but she cannot delete their crimes.
"This is Bloody Sunday returning to haunt the British Establishment yet again."
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