Plans to disqualify thousands of veterans from eligibility for retrospective honours could be dramatically scaled back in response to backlash from the defence community, Sky News can reveal.

Proposed reforms to the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (DHAAT) would impose a time limit on acts of gallantry that can be considered for higher recognition.

The limit would be 20 years from the end of a military operation, meaning retrospective honours could not be considered for any action that occurred during a conflict in the 20th century.

In response to anger from veterans and their advocates, Sky News can reveal the government is now consulting on a much larger timeframe.

Several options are being considered, but sources familiar with discussions believe a window of 75 years woul

See Full Page