Northern Ireland’s first ever veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan has resigned.

In a statement, he said he “cannot provide the independent voice that veterans require.”

Mr Kinahan, a former Ulster Unionist MP who served as a captain in the Blues and Royals Regiment, was appointed to the role in 2020.

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn thanked Mr Kinahan for his “dedicated work on behalf of veterans and families living in Northern Ireland.”

He said that veterans in Northern Ireland “do not enjoy the same protection as their counterparts in Great Britain.”

The former MP said he had decided to resign following an “open and frank” conversation with the secretary of state.

Mr Kinahan added: “Veterans in Northern Ireland have particular needs and concerns which need to be addressed by the UK Government, which I have made very clear in our discussions.”

Mr Benn said Mr Kinahan, who was the first veterans commissioner to be appointed in Northern Ireland, had spent four years working with veterans on a range of issues and the government would “continue to engage with him on these issues.”

He added: “We are committed to continuing to support veterans in Northern Ireland through the Veterans Welfare Service NI and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.”

Plans for a commissioner for military veterans were contained in 2020’s New Decade, New Approach agreement.

It is estimated there are about 150,000 ex-military personnel in Northern Ireland.