Tory MP Mercer ditches ‘anti-terror’ expert links


by Sunny Hundal    
September 17, 2009 at 6:30 pm

Tory MP Patrick Mercer has tried to put further distance between himself and the former anti-terrorism experts from Vigil, in particular Glen Jenvey.

This week the Sun half-apologised, for the first time, regarding its false story that British Muslims were targeting prominent Jews through a ‘hit list’.

The story was exposed by Tim Ireland from Bloggerheads and ended with ‘anti-terror expert’ Glen Jenvey, who fabricated the story, having a nervous breakdown and converting to Islam.

The Tory MP Patrick Mercer had earlier described Glen Jenvey as “an extremely capable and knowledgeable analyst”.

Yesterday the Guardian’s Hugh Muir quizzed him further on the issue:

So far, so reprehensible. But where does this leave the Conservative security guru Patrick Mercer MP, chairman of the parliamentary subcommittee on counter-terrorism?

As 5 Live pointed out, he was foolish enough to use his gravitas to bolster Jenvey’s reputation. “An extremely capable and knowledgeable analyst who needs to be listened to,” he said of Jenvey two years ago.

Mercer told us yesterday: “My office certainly received information from him but never worked with him. This was a damaging lie. I have had nothing more to do with Glen Jenvey.”


---------------------------
     


About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
· Other posts by
Filed under
News


Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


Reader comments


Mercer told us yesterday: “My office certainly received information from him but never worked with him. This was a damaging lie. I have had nothing more to do with Glen Jenvey.”

However, Mercer said in the Sun : I have done, quite a lot of work together, and he (Glen Jenvey) is a source of reference for me.

The fact that Mercer did “quite a lot of work” with Glen Jenvey makes it reasonable to assume that his office did work with him if only relaying information received.

I doubt Mr Mercer is to be trusted.

Perhaps worth pointing out that Tim Ireland has more to say on Patrick Mercer MP. It’s the third entry down, you have to scroll…

http://www.bloggerheads.com/

Thank you Douglas, I am already aware of the accusations of Tim Ireland and fully endorse then because I know for a fact Patrick Mercer rudely snubs people and that includes some of his constituents. I also believe the man is a liar and not to be trusted. Unfortunately, Mercer is our MP and in that regard a friend said to me we have been over grazing that useless bastard too long what should we do. What can we do said I but oppose him with the truth and hope that one day he will soon plague somewhere like Glasgow and get that which he so richly deserves.

Indeed I believe the man is reminiscent of a poker. The only difference is that a poker gives off the occasional signs of warmth. To my mind the man exemplified the most disagreeable traits of his time and that friend is no joke.

4. douglas clark

Err…

John.

I just made the comment for the benefit of anyone else reading the thread, who may not have known that.

And quite why you want to dump him on me – I’m a Glaswegian – I know not.

I agree there is a dissonance between what he is saying now and the events as they unfolded.

Well, it’s a small world indeed and I suppose it wouldn’t be nice to dump him on Glaswegians so if you would like to make a small donation to a good cause we will see what we can do about making him the first man on Mars.

Also Mars is named after the God of war, that should please him, but is there any risk that he could have the Martians in boots and carrying bayonets ready and willing for an invasion force. My War of the Worlds, would undoubtedly be his next book making Give Them a Volley and Charge small in comparison.

I’ll get in touch with NASA even if it does displace a chimpanzee, one way or another, for peace on earth Mercer must have a one way ticket to Mars.

Perhaps a better idea would be to send all the politicians to another planet, Mercer could order then about and, there would indeed be peace on Earth. Imagine that !


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Article:: Tory MP Mercer ditches ‘anti-terror’ expert links http://bit.ly/jm7pf





Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

 
Liberal Conspiracy is the UK's most popular left-of-centre politics blog. Our aim is to re-vitalise the liberal-left through discussion and action. More about us here.

You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
RECENT OPINION ARTICLES




14 Comments



17 Comments



26 Comments



42 Comments



21 Comments



13 Comments



49 Comments



11 Comments



78 Comments



5 Comments



LATEST COMMENTS
» Robin Levett posted on An attack on the wind industry is an attack on UK jobs

» kernowjim posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality

» ROFLMFAO posted on Fabians change policy on unpaid internships

» Cherub posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality

» jojo posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction

» Sun journos nicked in hack enquiry shocker « andrew henley posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction

» Daniel Factor posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality

» UKFI Not FFP posted on High pay - in football and banking - shouldn't be about morality

» Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Spike1138 posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?

» Bren Cook posted on New study shows a Robinhood tax would boost growth

» Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Tricia McDaid posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction

» Edward Buxton posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction

» Rich posted on Venables journo has manslaughter conviction