Johnny Mercer refuses to disown comments about Rishi Sunak

“It’s weird, it’s creepy, it’s a massive invasion of privacy.”
Johnny Mercer refuses to comment on a photograph of his memo appearing to criticise Rishi Sunak.
📻 Listen to Times Radio - www.thetimes.c...
📍 Subscribe to our channel - / @listentotimesradio
🗞 Subscribe to The Times www.thetimes.c...
📲 Get the free Times Radio app www.thetimes.c...

[@hustlinmagic]

Johnny Mercer has never really come across as a very pleasant person. And the start of that interview really did just set the tone for the full thing.

[@gullygullible9774]

Yes very rude 😊

[@richardcook1987]

have you never met an army officer?

[@polyestermammoth740]

He wasn't an officer

[@marcocosto6748]

So it's not news that Johnny is just a ventriloquist's puppet for Rishi's latest unthinking policies, but I have to wonder if Rishi sticks his hand up un-lubed or if he butters himself first,

[@MattBooth]

Thought it was just me that thought he was a see you next tuesday.

[@matthewmeehan9155]

He's such a rude man. Didn't they teach manners at Sandhurst?

[@marksimons8861]

He's clearly at the end of his tether. Not surprising as his party is falling apart at the seams.

[@gullygullible9774]

I don't think he went to Sandhurst

[@Clubberdude-sp1gw]

He just thinks he is a class above everyone else, he likely thinks he is never wrong and his ego can't take it when he is challenged. A lot of tories are like this. All ego, little to no substance.

[@TheOffkilter]

@@gullygullible9774 actually he did

[@ISuperTed]

They thought the exact opposite - arrogance

[@jamesbutler1029]

Mercer looks rattled. Just a bad election campaign or is he stressed about the court case?

[@theman2017inc]

Probably BOTH

[@31Blaize]

Both would be my guess. But he should look on the bright side, there's no room in jail these days to put him away...

[@sararichardson737]

What court case? Pls elucidate

[@polyestermammoth740]

Google Mercer war crimes

[@CCc-b6r]

he got 30million taxpayer money so his mate haz can put a bid in to have Invictus in UK both corrupt as he'll & can FO we dont want our money lining haz meg pockets

[@neilonaniet]

Mercer is my local MP. He's 100% certain to lose his seat. Bye bye 🙂

[@vickyserr]

Please promise🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@starmersbarber]

Ta ra. Off you skate Mercer...and don't come back.

[@neilonaniet]

@mrmonkey2214 I saw him in the street one day a couple of years ago. I was wearing my "You're Never More Than 10 Feet From a Tory" T-shirt, featuring a huge rat. I made sure he saw it 🙂

[@theMATTY1319]

​@mrmonkey2214 a gross oversimplification which is also grossly incorrect. Have the Tories promised taxes on the wealthy? Have they promised higher teacher wages to fill the gaps in schools? No, but the Labour Party has.

[@frankjaffray8148]

Thank god!!!!!

[@emlynpearce1451]

My God he's obnoxious. Does he know this is being recorded? Poor John having to put up with that behaviour.

[@garryburnett8486]

Mercer has chucked the towel in. No energy to defend anything

[@ScruffyTubbles]

Oh my god what next type response? Possibly.

[@KingofPotatoPeople]

Tired and exhausted. What we have here is a used Johnny.

[@parshakamarsh]

😂😂

[@maureengladwell1317]

Very rude and un Pleasant man

[@gerrylast]

😅

[@mikepost8965]

Isn't he supposed to be making the case for voting Conservative. Irritable and unnecessarily rude. He doesn't even bother to look at the camera. If he is not up for the interview, he should have turned it down.

[@simonvanderirwin]

It’s because he’s posh and thinks he’s better than anybody else.

[@brendanmcnamara1414]

@@simonvanderirwin Jim is not posh just crude

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

From the opening moment of this interview, Mercer comes across as an arrogant S**te. He perfectly illustrates why we need to see the back of these sad failures.

[@jsd8981]

He comes across like that no matter where he is and no matter where he goes..

[@fmparrott5485]

He’s so unpleasant.

[@JRattheranch]

Oh! Thank you! I thought it was only me that found his reposts devious!

[@MocatafamulusdeSet]

Of course he's unpleasant. He's a Tory. In fact, the adjective is rather mild.

[@kiriakoz]

But he has been for years now.

[@wojteks4712]

Maybe he tries to look casual, but his gestures and manner of speaking is disrespectful in an interview

[@marksc111]

His attitude, such a vote winner. 🤡

[@alexvince461]

The Tories are all getting really antagonistic to the media, it's not coming across well

[@Midland_Wolf_71]

Excellent viewing though eh….

[@alexvince461]

They're seriously losing the plot, it's a car crash, they really can't cope with being challenged

[@jaexiusnem1267]

They had an easy ride for so long & now they can’t handle the media onslaught. They’re having a tantrum because they aren’t getting their ‘entitled’ easy ride anymore

[@sasserine]

They've never experienced effective questioning before.

[@accomuk]

Mercer looks like he has surrendered already.

[@1967deek]

Good

[@philipmarsh2172]

Ironically for a former army officer who joined up at nineteen

[@sasserine]

He should have only given his name, rank and number.

[@oitoitoi1]

It's like the word "embittered" in human form.

[@dido.the.side.h0646]

this made me want to act more chirpy

[@Jessjoe1956]

Mercer is such an arrogant person, I hope he loses his seat so he, and his wife, who he pays out of our tax payers money, will both have to seek new employment. Perhaps some wealthy Tory donor could employ them as cleaners or something.

[@fionaholland9191]

If the tories think people in their mid fifties are knackered and can't lead how come I'm going to have to wait til I'm 67 to retire...

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan8419]

this isnt an election, its a cavalcade of karma. And karma looks like it took a steaming dump on Johnnys kitchen table. I particularly like the fact he is clearly reading talking point verbatim from a second screen. What an utter clown. But then he is the man who bullies the mentally ill on twitter

[@dexstewart2450]

Looks like he's had enough

[@richardstoker4963]

Mercer was pressed into the Army, he joined on his own free will. This policy drags young people into something that they don't want to do. I came off nightshift and enlisted, because I wanted a different direction away from factories. If I was told to do it, then my response would have been fxxk off.

[@pseudospinhalf]

I've heard the phrase "got out of the wrong side of the bed" before but I've never seen it personified quite like this.

[@mentality-monster]

Mercer is a total bell end. With friends like him, Sunak is sunk.

[@LolMahmood]

So many of the recent Tory interviewees seem to be grumpy and defensive!

[@michaelshanahan4042]

Yes that is because they know the game is up and they can not handle that

[@SamOwenI]

Obviously the questions are quite aggressive. His approach is unsurprising.

[@LolMahmood]

@SamOwenI "...the questions are quite aggressive..." Hahahaha! Seriously? You think that's aggressive? Aggressive!

[@englishcitystone1663]

Not surprising, even Tories are human

[@oitoitoi1]

they're finally being called out for the useless crooks they are

[@alpine_newt]

Punishing parents for what their ADULT offspring do, or do not do, is insane.

[@ianworley8169]

Children from left behind communities? This proposal is that every 18 year old in the country is subject to National Service. This is 2024, not 1954. Get your bloody hands off my 18 year old grandson. Vote Labour to keep these venal criminals away from the levers of power for decades to come.

[@lesterfalcon1350]

I can't believe they can't answer the simple question of parental responsibility and liability for their kids. They are not kids, they are 18 and no longer under UK law a parental responsibility. This should be an easy answer, but they mess this up too.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

Don't worry, they have about a zero percent chance of winning

[@leecooper8589]

​@@alexanderstefanov6474 I doubt it will happen even if they did win. The Royal commission is a fantastic way to kick this into the long grass and they'd have a whole raft of gimmicks to throw at the following election.

[@AndrewPawley11]

Mercer's days are numbered. Mercifully.

[@andersaskjrgensen5468]

Mercerfully...

[@mrpocock]

All his language around this points at class warfare. Poor kids. Disadvantaged backgrounds. The unfortunate poor. The serf class.

[@carlwilson192]

How do you know Johnny Mercer served in the military..? Don’t worry he will tell you …..every time he opens his mouth

[@forthrightgambitia1032]

Even arch-Tory Peter Hitchens called him out on this.

[@maureengladwell1317]

@@forthrightgambitia1032 another un. pleasant man as well

[@gerrylast]

I thought he was a jockey horse 🐎

[@AgentGreyFox]

Mercer clearly doesn't want to be there, and looks completely defeated and hopeless. Brexit tore the Tories apart, and the country is suffering for it!

[@degaulle30]

Cannot wait for this hooray henry to lose his job

[@robblack533]

Typical entitled officer, arrogant and downright rude!

[@starmersbarber]

Yep...that is Mercer in a nutshell. Iain Duncan Smith (another military Tory) is also very obnoxious and arrogant.

[@High_Lord_Of_Terra]

He's a right Rupert

[@anthonyclegg1511]

He's an officer? And cleverly. GHU, 💩🐷🧀🚣‍♂️

[@susannamarker2582]

Rich-bashing is just pure envy. My vote is with Rishi.

[@anthonyclegg1511]

@@susannamarker2582 poor bashing is pure evil. 💩🧀🐷🚣‍♂️

[@reubenfevrier2349]

This is not Mercer’s finest hour….

[@jsd8981]

That's what's wrong with him he has never had a finest hour...

[@PrinceOfCats5]

The wheels haven't come off the campaign. They were never on in the first place. Cabinet Minister doesnt even know the party line it changes so quickly with no communication from CCHQ. Its LAUGHABLE. I've seen better run tea parties by 4 year old children

[@londreslush]

😆😆😆

[@davidhoward4715]

I will give Johnny Mercer some credit. He doesn't even try to hide his utter dejection.

[@waterbird-s5q]

"for left behind communities" Is this going to be forced on the unemployed and poor? Will rich kids get a pass?

[@tomvandersteen5880]

Blatantly, the consequences for non compliance will be a fine, easily payable for anyone with the cash. Same as for taking kids out of school for holidays, no problem for the rich.

[@he1ar1]

Rich kids get an internship at the MoD.

[@audreymcleod6262]

Jonnie mercer is supposed to be for veterans. I. Think not. He’s more for himself.

[@geraldbutler5484]

Obviously, he’s a Tory. Is he as self obsessed as the posh boys? I served, I served, I served he reminds us continually.

[@tammypierce7479]

Absolutely

[@davebland8489]

New drinking game: take a shot every time a Tory says “BOLD!”

[@jsd8981]

Or I have a plan

[@stargazerbird]

‘A bold move’ used to be civil service speak for ‘That would be a disaster’ in Yes Minister.

[@hansgruber3064]

Don’t forget “Strong”

[@musicman5075]

If you don't want to appear on a radio program/ podcast during an election campaign then don't. If you do then it would be advisable to treat the interviewer and his questions with some level of respect. It's only about day 5 and you're looking like you have given up already. Perhaps you have.

[@anastasiabeaverhausen5467]

Is he hungover or something?? How obnoxious

[@jsd8981]

They never fail at being abnoxious every where they go abnoxious...abnoxious ....abnoxious ..

[@timhill9189]

Just given up and thinking of his next gig in the City or some private 'security' firm.

[@maureengladwell1317]

@@timhill9189 he looks like he's got a hanger that doesn't he just has to face it

[@philkelly704]

Wow. It’s going that badly?

[@tonyyork46]

Probably stressing about his gravy train about to come off the tracks🤮🤡

[@jsd8981]

That is a certainty...

[@xyzzdoe3674]

Jeez, these Tories can't even come up with their own slurs for their opponents, they have to borrow Trump's.

[@grahamturner1290]

Weird and creepy. Sounds like a typical Tory.

[@jsd8981]

Agreed totally...

[@geraldbutler5484]

Plan, plan, plan, we have a plan. We planned to have a plan and the plan is part of our overall plan to enrich ourselves while kicking the skivers in the guts.

[@grahamturner1290]

@@geraldbutler5484 😂👍

[@darkerspec8275]

He seems hungover

[@nickd.6365]

On a comedown.

[@alfie8778]

@@nickd.6365 two bags in

[@bradwhiteuk]

Johnny Mercer behaving like a bell-end. What's new?

[@poneill65]

Is he tired (after four days work) or was he always such a pr_ck?

[@jsd8981]

I would put my money on the allways option...

[@MrAlibud87]

Why not both

[@Ianmundo]

Does he realise this is a video interview? he can’t even muster any energy nor basic manners, just a rude, angry, unpleasant person. Who in their right mind would want him as their MP?

[@CeticWales]

Johnny Mercer looks thoroughly fed up. And who can blame him with the way the campaign is going for the Tories.

[@coastalsandwich]

lol, it looks and sounds like he's about quit next

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

He looks and sounds so done, it's hilarious

[@alfching2499]

He Looks like how we feel about him 😊

[@stevecoppin6396]

an invasion of privacy ? but it's ok for the government to scrutinise bank accounts ?

[@maureengladwell1317]

The tooth so toothpaste anything to do with their technical players or anything they don't want to talk about it but they don't mind anybody else get 50p more a week and you get kicked in the teeth fiddle if billion and you are called a hero that's the trouble with this country

[@russellbradley454]

To prevent fraudulent use of Pensioner tax payers tax YES

[@AJB17]

Well, i certainly wouldn't be voting for Mr Mercer if he was standing in my constituency. What a rude and arrogant man.

[@ivanconnolly7332]

Bad Johnny thinks his arrogance is perfume.

[@modelcitizen2028]

Looks like Johnny is in need of a large tumbler of Whiskey. Scrub that, just give him the bottle! The Tory psychodrama continues ... 📺😂👍

[@ZiggyMercury]

The idea that parents will be punished for what their adult child does (or doesn't do) just makes no sense.

[@jsd8981]

The torys suggested the same thing many years ago, can't rember what the subject matter was, but it never came to anything to many legal issues and it would have them down for years, plus they wherevquit simply told to f**k off...

[@colinwhyte3402]

This 'Bold' policy doesn't have the details, because it hasn't been worked out on a stamp. It hasn't been worked out at all !!!! We are a couple of days in, & we have tory MPs looking like they have given up already. As a cabinet minister, he needs to say what the official statement is. If he can't, he shouldn't be a cabinet minister.

[@jsd8981]

Mercer needs some good advice from sunak, after all sunak is the man with the plan...

[@JRattheranch]

Bold ideas! Ludicrous ideas would be nearer the mark! You've hammered the young for 14 years Johnny and now you want them to acquiesce to your dictates! In any case a Royal Commission? ... In five years time they might have a proposition? I'm listening to this man and trying to understand why I really don't like his responses! But ... 9:31 he's just a slimy Tory! 😮

[@TerriObrien-mi5rx]

Awful man Mercer is,vote him out 🤡😡

[@stephenbain389]

Don't they already do this kind of thing with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards?

[@alpine_newt]

Tories attacking Starmer over his age has backfired spectacularly. Everyone is so impressed with how young he looks!

[@JCstone1000]

Johnny mercer is such an unpleasant pillock

[@Craig-wk1kz]

How can you defend what hasn't worked ? your party is a national embarrassment, how do you not see that ?

[@shaun906]

the country is a international embarrassment!

[@johnbennett9630]

Conscriiption - "it's bold, it's new" says Mercer. What about rationing - doesn't that have a similar fresh vibe? How about evacuating all the kids in cities to farms in the countryside? Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Mercer?

[@JoButterwick]

I’m getting Nadine Dores vibes from this. Could it be the gin?

[@johnjohnjhorton3618]

That guy is neither fit to be, nor deserves to be, an MP. One of the most repellent figures I have seen in Parliament.

[@fionaholland9191]

Time for rich kids to be forced to do voluntary work in council estates. They'd certainly learn quick to run fast.

[@jsd8981]

Definetly...way different rules just for a starters ..

[@littlechanges13]

I used to have intense respect for Johnny Mercer. That respect has long since disappeared, what an embarrassment

[@leemccourt1604]

Left behind communities, what happened to levelling up?

[@starmersbarber]

Who left these communities behind? The Tories have been in power for a mere 14 years....so it can't be anything to do with them!!!!

[@keithjackson8076]

Mercer's arrogance is astounding. As a former officer his lauding of this conscription scheme is bizarre. The true cost of which would divert huge sums and attention away from the the armed forces at a most critical time. It would however fill the pockets of tory sponsors like Michelle Mone and those who defrauded the furlough scheme. That's the tory reality.

[@spookyt8692]

Nothing says community and nationalism like being forced into fudelism.

[@andydarbyshir8699]

The conservatives will just say anything they are getting desperate

[@leemccourt1604]

He’s such a smug pregnant fish..

[@i.jwilson2885]

🤣

[@JesusH.Tap-Dancingchrist7328]

Twonk

[@vickyserr]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@123boat]

😂😂😂👍

[@TheRickydamen]

Like so many Sandhurst products

[@annishilcock4587]

Johnny Mr Ego Mercer. He was late for a meeting in Parliament and when someone asked the doorman if he seen him he said he might have been delayed when he walked past a mirror. And why isn't he in prison, wasn't there any room?

[@chrislambe400]

I also refuse to disown my comments about Richy Nutsak

[@jsd8981]

LoL !!!

[@grahamkearnon6682]

Isn't an 18 yr old an ADULT! Sans parents.

[@AkiraTwin]

What an deeply unpleasant and unserious individual Mercer is. And sleepy Starmer, they are lifting stuff straight out of the Trump playbook. Pathetic

[@jonnyjaywick]

JOhnny Mercer. What an absolute tool.

[@byzantium8851]

“Our party is a broad church”. No party is broad enough to include a recommendation by an MP to vote for another party. Are there any wheels left on this Tory bus?

[@mdog2501]

Incredibly rude.

[@immortaljellyfish1051]

What a horrid little man. Really reaching out to a friendly tory Times audience.

[@hosephanerothe1440]

What an odious representation of the ministry of defence, oh sorry Jonny, the 'cabinet office' ... Enjoy civvy life mate 🤣

[@malcolmgordon2988]

I’d fully expect Mr Mercer will get a quiet tap on the shoulder from CCHQ and be asked not to talk to anyone for the next five and a half weeks… assuming there’s someone competent running things there!

[@charlesflouvat1829]

Fix the potholes

[@boreilly82]

He doesn't like it up 'im, does Mercer

[@scj00380]

He's my MP in. Plymouth. 'Obnoxious' doesn't even start to describe this arrogant man.

[@chrisholland7367]

He has done absolutely nothing for Plymouth.

[@scj00380]

@@chrisholland7367 He's a bloody Tory... what do you expect?

[@chrisholland7367]

@@scj00380 Not much.

[@zen4men]

Research coverup by Plymouth police of decades of sex crimes against young males by a Plymouth duty solicitor - helped by Johnny Mercer . plymouthdeservesbetter.blogspot.com/#stt_mnu /

[@chrisholland7367]

@@scj00380 nothing.

[@gavinmc5285]

National -Health- Service

[@xavierhucklenbruch1798]

What a unpleasant man..

[@Tom_murray89]

The optics don't look great at all also by the way he looks it seems the Tories are tost

[@Dimona_UK]

It does mean the wheels are coming off... not looking at the camera and the interviewing party not knowing what department you're in is telling.

[@jsd8981]

Yep agreed..

[@owencarlstrand1945]

The phrase that springs to mind is “Get me out of here”

[@ianevans6122]

He looked like he was suffering from a terrible hangover. Ironically, that's how we all feel after the last 14 years of this BS.

[@paulbo9033]

The salty petulance of this guys is lols. And they wonder why no one likes them.

[@1967deek]

Tories out can't wait.

[@charlielynch5932]

If Mercer has advisers left that can stand him, they're not prepping him effectively for these interviews.

[@chickenbites8877]

Bro looks tired of being a Tory LOL

[@neilmcclary]

Blame eveyone and everything its so unfair jeez grow a pair

[@kevinjackson6387]

Don’t like the way this guy conducts himself,

[@welshaccenttutorials3104]

Volunteering for conscription?

[@jsd8981]

That's exactly right...

[@jojohn8988]

Im was a Tory and this guy is unpleasant and rude

[@alanpage3973]

What world do these people live in

[@allanmckeown8417]

Mercy, Mercy ,poor Johny Mercer, you're going to get whupped.