Johnny Mercer: the Tory MP going on strike
Former Army officer tells Theresa May he’s withdrawing support in protest against probes into military veterans

Conservative MP Johnny Mercer has announced he is going on strike and will not vote with the Government on any issues other than Brexit.
In a letter to Theresa May, seen by The Sun, former Army officer Mercer said that while he is not resigning the Tory whip, he is withdrawing his support until the prime minister scales back controversial investigations into former members of the British military.
“I will not be voting for any of the Government’s legislative actions outside of Brexit until legislation is brought forward to protect veterans from being repeatedly prosecuted for historical allegations,” the letter says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mercer’s decision poses a fresh headache for the Conservative Party, which can “ill afford to lose MPs from [the] rising generation who have been able to win marginal seats”, tweets the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
What’s less clear “is whether anyone will even notice he’s on strike, given this government basically has zero legislative plans anyway”, quips Politico’s Jack Blanchard.
But just who is Mercer and why is he taking this action?
Who is Johnny Mercer?
Mercer became MP for Plymouth Moor View in 2015, when he won with a majority of 5,000 - despite having been told he had no hope of victory by Lynton Crosby, the election strategist in charge of the Tories’ campaign.
Motivated by the doubters, Mercer told parliamentary magazine The House that he had secured a 4.3% swing to the Tories by targeting “centre, centre-right” voters whose political inclinations, like his own, were malleable.
Since his election, he has become known for his somewhat outspoken nature. During an interview last October, Mercer said he would not vote Tory if he wasn’t an MP.
And in April, it emerged that he was being paid £85,000 a year by a company that marketed a failed bond scheme that lost savers a total of £236m.
But Mercer is perhaps best known for getting into a row that quickly went viral with a Twitter user by the name of Stephen Knight, or @Billabong1965.
The spat began over the MP’s appearance on Channel 4 reality show Hunted, before getting more personal. During one exchange, Mercer accused Knight of implying in a local newspaper comments section that “my wife was a prostitute”.
BuzzFeed News asked the Plymouth Herald which story Knight had commented on, but a spokesperson was unable to say. According to the newspaper, the post that provoked Mercer’s ire breached its guidelines and has since been deleted.
Why is he defending veterans?
Mercer, a member of the Commons Defence Committee, has repeatedly called for new legislation to prevent anyone accused of crimes linked to the Troubles in Northern Ireland from being prosecuted.
“As many as 200 former members of the British security forces are under official investigation for alleged criminal actions” during that period, according to The Guardian.
In his letter to May, the former soldier says: “As you know, the historical prosecution of our servicemen and women is a matter that is personally offensive to me.
“Many are my friends; and I am from their tribe.”
Mercer wants an effective amnesty for members of the security forces and paramilitaries - a proposal that both nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland have criticised.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Week US terms and conditions
-
Leo XIV vs. Trump: what will first American Pope mean for US Catholics?
Today's Big Question New pope has frequently criticised the president, especially on immigration policy, but is more socially conservative than his predecessor
-
What's going on with the Beckhams?
In the Spotlight From wedding tantrums to birthday snubs, rumours of a family rift are becoming harder to hide
-
'Incarceration profoundly affects families and communities'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Is the UK's two-party system finally over?
Today's Big Question 'Unprecedented fragmentation puts voters on a collision course with the electoral system'
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
CPAC: Scenes from a MAGA zoo
Feature Standing ovations, chainsaws, and salutes
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
-
Is there a Christmas curse on Downing Street?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer could follow a long line of prime ministers forced to swap festive cheer for the dreaded Christmas crisis
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist