MP's regrets over fabricated plot
NOTTS MP Patrick Mercer has said he "very much" regrets what happened with a self-styled "terror expert" who fabricated an Islamic extremist plot.
Glen Jenvey posted a "hit-list" of Jewish celebrities – including Sir Alan Sugar and Amy Winehouse – on a UK Islamic website then fed a story to a national newspaper claiming he had uncovered an assassination plot.
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Patrick Mercer
When evidence of the fabrication was found by internet bloggers, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) launched an investigation – after which Jenvey confessed to having made up the entire story.
It also emerged Mr Mercer – who chairs the Commons Counter Terrorism Committee – had previously endorsed Jenvey as a reliable source.
Mr Mercer said: "He had come to me with information in the past and I very much regret what happened, that he got himself into the situation that he did."
Jenvey originally gave the hit-list story to South West News Service, who then passed it on to The Sun. The newspaper printed the tale on its front page in January.
It was then that internet blogger Tim Ireland, of the website Bloggerheads, revealed evidence that Jenvey had planted the list himself.
In a letter to the PCC in which the story's origins were explained, editors of The Sun wrote that South West News Service had – in relation to a previous story – been reassured by Mr Mercer that Jenvey was dependable.
The MP had reportedly said: "Glen Jenvey is an extremely capable and knowledgeable analyst of fundamentalist matters and ought to be listened to.
"He and I have done quite a lot of work together and he is a source of reference for me."
After the hit-list story was published ,the Islamic website on which it had been planted, Ummah.com, complained and was later issued with an apology from The Sun.
It read: "Our story on January 7 about a 'hit-list' of top British Jews on the website Ummah.com was based on claims by Glen Jenvey who last week confessed to duping several newspapers and Tory MP Patrick Mercer."
Mr Mercer often takes a lead on speaking out on security issues.
He said Jenvey had first contacted him with information some three years ago, but that he had not had contact with him for some time.
The MP, who was once shadow minister for homeland security, added: "I haven't spoken to Jenvey for over two-and-a-half years.
"There has been no working relationship between us for some time, and there won't be one in the future."
newsdesk@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
29 Comments
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by Jack, Newark,UK
Sunday, October 04 2009, 11:03AM
“Mat, if you think it¿s all about political motivation your wrong it¿s honest condemnation.
The giving of others, if true, does not in any way cancel out the publicity stunt to donate blood which he knew he could not give. Constant good for national security, like his work, with Glen Jenvey and Dominic Wightman.
I also believe like others the allegation that he was a member of the notorious FRU in Northern Ireland.
I could focus on many aspects of our Newark MP most of them not good but his use of The National Blood Service
spoke volumes of the man.
I think that Mr Mercer never truly wanted the job of representing our town perhaps that is why his job is a partnership with his wife. I believe he only sought after the opportunities for recognition and elevation to a Ministerial position indeed to the possibility of such a position Mr Mercer said "if there is a human embodiment of that creature, I am he."
Patrick Mercer MP, needs to learn subservience to the will of his people, magnanimous toward those he dislikes and desist snubbing those that try to communicate with him like Tim Ireland and others. It is time he learnt that he is the servant not the master and must be amenable and considerate towards the feelings of others. Dunblane!”
by Matthew Peck, Retford
Sunday, October 04 2009, 12:46AM
“So Jack, you must be working for the Labour candidate for Newark then? So Hi from me.
When Patrick went to the Retford Blood giving service he took me and a number of others with him. It is the only time in my life I have given blood, and it was on Patrick's suggestion. Retford did get its blood.
Considering the constant good Patrick has done since his election for national security, and his decades of service in the armed forces, I think your desperate focus on blood donation 8 years ago looks a little silly.
Why dont you just go canvassing like every other Labour supporter?
Mat Peck”
by Jack, Newark,uk
Thursday, October 01 2009, 3:31PM
“It¿s 'shameless' because it¿s morally wrong to use The National Blood Service to achieve one¿s political objective and it is wrong because it¿s unethical like robbing a church poor box.
At the time Mercer was a prospective Conservative candidate for Newark. Mercer is a man of intellect and must have known that donors should wait at the very least 12 weeks not days.
The Chief Executive of the National Blood Service said Mercer attended the session at St Joseph's Church Hall with a photographer, but could not give blood, due to the short time since his donation. Mr Mercer then asked to be photographed for the local newspaper the staff were not told of the previous story and the potential for printing a misleading message about the minimum interval between donations.
Patrick Mercer said "Taxpayers' money is precious.", rather decent of him until I discovered that he claimed £2,800 for food in one year and unsuccessfully for mobile phone bill. Mrs Mercer junior caseworker and stand-in-- salary £10,000 to £19,999, taxpayers' money is precious.
Mr Mercer said he had no idea how many hours his wife worked but he regards his job to be a "partnership" with his wife. Oh, those mundane meetings.”
by Steptoe, and Daughter?!
Thursday, October 01 2009, 8:54AM
“Jack, Newark, why is that so 'shameless' or 'scandalous?'
I was under the impression that you coulnd't give blood more often than every couple of months, let along twice a day!!!”
by Jack, Newark,UK
Thursday, October 01 2009, 8:47AM
“Patrick Mercer is perhaps the biggest political shyster we the people of Newark have encountered furthermore his pledged to the constituency to put us first and foremost was like a sandcastle.
Mercer shamelessly used The National Blood Service in a publicity stunt. He gave blood in Newark then said he had "every intention of giving blood in Retford", he got his publicity photograph but naturally no blood was given in Retford.
The taxpayers gives a lot of money to Mercer and his staff but they heartlessly and persistently snub people to the point that I now honestly believe them to be spiritually and morally bankrupt.
I believe Mercer¿s only regret is that Tim Ireland exposed him and his staff. The real regret is that the people of Newark put their trust in Patrick Mercer but like Cameron and the Tory grassroots discovered the man is untrustworthy also a pretentious and pompous politician perhaps even void of the quality of goodness. All of this I do truly believe to be the truth of my opinion.”
by jim, waiting to vote the red,white and blue in
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 6:20PM
“!!”
by jim, waiting to vote the sleazy b******s out
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 6:18PM
“' mij, interested '---lets just say i ain't voteing for the sleazy conservatives--i ain't voteing for the greens --I ain't voteing for the sleazy lunatic Liberals and I certainly wont be voteing for the sleazy commie Nuliebour party, so i will let you use your grey matter and see if you can guess !!!
yes you were right its the " BNP "give yourself a pat on the back you clever boy”
by Josephine, Derbyshire
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 3:48PM
“So another crazy publicity-stunt bites the dust.
Earlier this year Patrick Mercer MP was demanding the monitoring of anyone with dual nationality, as a counter-terrorism measure. What will his next plan be?”
by fabriccio, In The City
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 2:42PM
“This is all very well with this biblical stuff....but where is BJ Mann??....has he gone on a creative writing course ?”
by The Seer, Seering
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 1:57PM
“I don't have a persecution complex, i have perfect clarity!
*OPEN YOUR EYES!*”