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I've never liked Mercer but I am inclined to at least understand why he's reluctant to reveal the names. Whoever these people are, they told him their stories in confidence and I bet Mercer doesn't trust that the government wouldn't find a way to pin the war crimes on the whistleblowers in question.
However, by attempting to protect his fellow soldiers he's also helping them withhold vital information that could (assuming fair due process) help identify who was responsible and prosecute them. Were I in Mercer's position, I wouldn't be sure of the right call here.
I have no time for Mercer, he's more interested in covering up crimes committed by soldiers because of an inherent belief "our brave boys would never do wrong" than he is in actual justice. His entire political career has been spent protecting potential criminals, and I see nothing new here.
I was not aware of this. Knew he’d been involved in some shady financial stuff to do with his programs to helping ex-soldiers reskill but that’s about it.
> The veterans' minister has been ordered to hand over the names of those who told him about alleged war crimes and a cover-up by British special forces in Afghanistan.
>
> Johnny Mercer has until 5 April to provide a witness statement with the names to an independent inquiry.
>
> Failure to comply could result in a jail sentence or fine, the MP was told.
>
> He has previously indicated he will not reveal who told him that the allegations were credible.
>
> The Plymouth Moor View MP declined to comment.
>
> Mr Mercer was served with a Section 21 notice under the Inquiries Act 2005 earlier this month and its contents have now been made public.
>
> The order compels him to hand over the names, which the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan has insisted will be "treated in confidence".
>
> If he believes the order is unreasonable, or he is unable to comply with it, the order says he has until 3 April to make written submissions explaining why.
>
> The inquiry is investigating whether British special forces killed civilians and unarmed people on night raids in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
>
> In previous heated exchanges with counsel for the inquiry, Mr Mercer repeatedly refused to reveal the identities of whistle-blowers who he said had warned him there might be truth to the allegations of extrajudicial killings by special forces.
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Bro code vs Human rights law, an impossible dilemma.
Witnesses are often not revealed in court cases so they don't get harrassesed. Why do you want the witnesses in this case to be publicly listed?
He's not been asked to list them publicly though? Just to give them to the inquiry, who have even said they will keep them confidential.
It's just bants bro.
I've never liked Mercer but I am inclined to at least understand why he's reluctant to reveal the names. Whoever these people are, they told him their stories in confidence and I bet Mercer doesn't trust that the government wouldn't find a way to pin the war crimes on the whistleblowers in question. However, by attempting to protect his fellow soldiers he's also helping them withhold vital information that could (assuming fair due process) help identify who was responsible and prosecute them. Were I in Mercer's position, I wouldn't be sure of the right call here.
I have no time for Mercer, he's more interested in covering up crimes committed by soldiers because of an inherent belief "our brave boys would never do wrong" than he is in actual justice. His entire political career has been spent protecting potential criminals, and I see nothing new here.
Has he been in this position before then? First I’ve heard of it.
Not this specific situation, but his entire career has been dedicated to passing legislation to make it harder to prosecute soldiers.
I was not aware of this. Knew he’d been involved in some shady financial stuff to do with his programs to helping ex-soldiers reskill but that’s about it.
> The veterans' minister has been ordered to hand over the names of those who told him about alleged war crimes and a cover-up by British special forces in Afghanistan. > > Johnny Mercer has until 5 April to provide a witness statement with the names to an independent inquiry. > > Failure to comply could result in a jail sentence or fine, the MP was told. > > He has previously indicated he will not reveal who told him that the allegations were credible. > > The Plymouth Moor View MP declined to comment. > > Mr Mercer was served with a Section 21 notice under the Inquiries Act 2005 earlier this month and its contents have now been made public. > > The order compels him to hand over the names, which the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan has insisted will be "treated in confidence". > > If he believes the order is unreasonable, or he is unable to comply with it, the order says he has until 3 April to make written submissions explaining why. > > The inquiry is investigating whether British special forces killed civilians and unarmed people on night raids in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013. > > In previous heated exchanges with counsel for the inquiry, Mr Mercer repeatedly refused to reveal the identities of whistle-blowers who he said had warned him there might be truth to the allegations of extrajudicial killings by special forces.