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Labour is driving elite soldiers out of the special forces by turning its back on veterans of the Troubles and "our allies think we are mad", the Government has been warned. Britain's enemies are watching as the Government tries to "appease Sinn Fein" by scrapping measures to give soldiers who served during the years of IRA terrorism conditional immunity, it is claimed.

Conservatives joined forces with veterans to launch a full-throttle attack on Labour's plans to change the law. It is feared ageing veterans will face a "conveyor belt" prosecutions. At a press conference in London, a statement was read out from Soldier Z, a "former SAS operator", who warned of the impact on Britain's military and on the country's allies.

He said: "Some of our finest servicemen and women are resigning rather than continue in a regiment and wider organisation that is no longer permitted or able to stand by them when they need it most. Having been arrested and humiliated in front of my family on a number of occasions, I know first-hand the damage this is doing and will continue to do unless it is stopped."

He added: "As a nation we must collectively act to reverse this current course of action and most importantly reassure our US allies that we can still be relied upon as their most valued partner to 'take the shot' when required."

Simon Barry, a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served with the Parachute Regiment, said US and French contacts told him: "You are destroying probably the best thing your country has got to offer on the world stage when things get really difficult."

Shadow defence minister Mark Francois condemned a "sordid backstairs deal between our Government and the Government of the Irish Republic" and warned of the impact on recruitment.

He said: "We already have more people leaving the armed forces than joining and if this Bill goes through fewer will join and more will leave."

Stating "our allies think we are mad," he said: "What they are saying in private is: 'What on earth are you doing?' There is no other country on earth that would treat their veterans the way they are being treated here."

He added: "It is because of politics and it is ultimately to appease Sinn Fein and we should call that out for what it is."

Helen Kelly, whose husband Ned Kelly served with the Parachute Regiment and suffered life-changing injuries in a terrorist blast, said it was a "load of rubbish" that Labour's plans for investigating the past would provide affected families with closure.

She said in a statement read out in the press conference: "This is opening up old wounds and setting anxiety off in families for whom this has never ended. Labour can't hide behind us military wives saying we will get closure, because we won't."

Former Lt Col Mr Barry was appalled at the Republic of Ireland's involvement in the new arrangements.

He said: "It's a bit like getting the Kray twins to investigate Scotland Yard, frankly."

The Home Office has revealed the killings of at least 77 people in England during the Troubles remain unsolved. Nearly half of the victims were armed forces personnel.

Security minister Dan Jarvis, a former member of The Parachute Regiment who served in Northern Ireland, said: "The last Government's Legacy Act shut down police investigations and proposed immunity for terrorists. This left many families feeling they had nowhere to go to continue their search for justice, or simply for answers about what happened to their loved ones.

"This Government's legislation will put that right. It guarantees no terrorist will be able to claim immunity from prosecution, while ensuring there is an effective and wholly independent Legacy Commission to conduct investigations that families right across the United Kingdom can have confidence in."