Iraqis paid to travel abroad by UK taxpayer to give evidence against British war veterans
The Iraqis, who have accused troops of abuse over incidents dating back as long ago as 2003, are given spending and living allowances after being flown to hotels overseas for interviews.
A controversial law firm, that shut down over alleged irregularities over its conduct in Iraq, has also been paid money out of public funds to attend the interviews in Turkey and Lebanon.
A senior MP said the payments could act as a ‘lucrative’ incentive for Iraqis to make claims of abuse. MPs questioned why the interviews are not carried out by video link.
The admission over payments followed a series of further damaging revelations made to a defence select committee investigating the treatment of troops.
The parliamentary inquiry heard that British troops are being subjected to secret su...