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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cameron wants crackdown on 'spurious' military legal claims | Cameron wants crackdown on 'spurious' military legal claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The prime minister has ordered a clampdown on "spurious" legal claims against UK military personnel. | The prime minister has ordered a clampdown on "spurious" legal claims against UK military personnel. |
| David Cameron has asked ministers to draw up plans to end the claims, including measures to curb the use of "no win, no fee" arrangements. | David Cameron has asked ministers to draw up plans to end the claims, including measures to curb the use of "no win, no fee" arrangements. |
| A Number 10 source said Mr Cameron wanted to stop the "torment" felt by members of the armed forces who faced such cases. | |
| Lawyers have argued that no-one should be above the law. | Lawyers have argued that no-one should be above the law. |
| Troops' 'torment' | Troops' 'torment' |
| A Number 10 source said: "The prime minister is deeply concerned at the large number of spurious claims being made against members of our armed forces. | A Number 10 source said: "The prime minister is deeply concerned at the large number of spurious claims being made against members of our armed forces. |
| "He is absolutely clear that action needs to be taken and has asked the National Security Council to produce a clear, detailed plan on how we stop former troops facing this torment." | "He is absolutely clear that action needs to be taken and has asked the National Security Council to produce a clear, detailed plan on how we stop former troops facing this torment." |
| Other plans being considered by the government's National Security Council include speeding up a planned residence for legal aid cases that will require claimants to have lived in the UK for 12 months. | Other plans being considered by the government's National Security Council include speeding up a planned residence for legal aid cases that will require claimants to have lived in the UK for 12 months. |
| The government's new proposals also include taking action against companies found to have abused the system in the past to pursue fabricated claims. | The government's new proposals also include taking action against companies found to have abused the system in the past to pursue fabricated claims. |
| There could also be penalties for those lawyers who are found to have abused the process. | There could also be penalties for those lawyers who are found to have abused the process. |
| The BBC's legal affairs correspondent, Clive Coleman, said lawyers stress the government has agreed financial settlements in hundreds of claims brought against soldiers, and that few cases are legally-aided. | The BBC's legal affairs correspondent, Clive Coleman, said lawyers stress the government has agreed financial settlements in hundreds of claims brought against soldiers, and that few cases are legally-aided. |
| 'Deliberate lies' | 'Deliberate lies' |
| A spokesman for law firm Leigh Day said Mr Cameron should not challenge the principle that "no-one is above the law". | A spokesman for law firm Leigh Day said Mr Cameron should not challenge the principle that "no-one is above the law". |
| He said: "Over the last 12 years many cases of abuse made against the MoD during the course of the occupation of Iraq have come to light and been accepted by the government. | He said: "Over the last 12 years many cases of abuse made against the MoD during the course of the occupation of Iraq have come to light and been accepted by the government. |
| "They include the appalling torture and murder of Baha Mousa in 2003. In addition, the government has paid compensation for over 300 other cases relating to abuse and unlawful detention of Iraqis. | "They include the appalling torture and murder of Baha Mousa in 2003. In addition, the government has paid compensation for over 300 other cases relating to abuse and unlawful detention of Iraqis. |
| He added: "The vast majority of serving Army soldiers do a first class job in protecting this country but the evidence shows that this is by no means the case for all." | He added: "The vast majority of serving Army soldiers do a first class job in protecting this country but the evidence shows that this is by no means the case for all." |
| Leigh Day has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to answer complaints about its handling of legal challenges brought by Iraqi detainees against the Ministry of Defence. | Leigh Day has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to answer complaints about its handling of legal challenges brought by Iraqi detainees against the Ministry of Defence. |
| It follows the findings of the 2014 Al-Sweady inquiry, which concluded that the most serious claims against British soldiers had been "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility". | It follows the findings of the 2014 Al-Sweady inquiry, which concluded that the most serious claims against British soldiers had been "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility". |
| The firm has strongly denied allegations of wrongdoing and said it would "vigorously" defend itself. | The firm has strongly denied allegations of wrongdoing and said it would "vigorously" defend itself. |
| The Legal Aid Agency has also been asked to review all contracts to establish whether legal aid should be restricted on an interim basis in relation to any firm under investigation for misconduct, and whether such contracts should be scrapped entirely after disciplinary proceedings have been completed. | The Legal Aid Agency has also been asked to review all contracts to establish whether legal aid should be restricted on an interim basis in relation to any firm under investigation for misconduct, and whether such contracts should be scrapped entirely after disciplinary proceedings have been completed. |
| The proposals come days after Mr Fallon told MPs he was concerned about the "industrial scale" of claims against serving personnel and veterans. | The proposals come days after Mr Fallon told MPs he was concerned about the "industrial scale" of claims against serving personnel and veterans. |