Speaking to reporters in London, Sir Keir said Mr Thomas was a veteran "who's got a proud record of service".
He said the comments showed the Conservatives were "party first through and through and country second" which was the "wrong way round".
"I think this is sad desperation that the veterans minister is attacking another veteran who's got a proud record of service," he said.
"It's desperate."
Responding, Mr Mercer said: "I am guilty as charged for being a sad man who is rather old fashioned and thinks veterans who boast in newspapers about their record in combat in order to get elected should be held to account, particularly if it turns out to be untrue.
"It is deeply offensive and disrespectful to those who do actually shed blood for the nation."
So he doesn't know if it's true or not? Or, if he does know it to be untrue, how does he know? Has he used his position/contacts to trawl through military records stuff in order to diss a member of the opposition? That's my question....how do you know??
It's pretty grubby stuff from Mercer though. I thought he was a better man than that.
It seems there was a little more to it than that, Mercer isn't the one that challenged the Labour candidate.
Telegraph wrote:Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday night, Mr Mercer said a question-and-answer event at which Mr Thomas also appeared was “one of the most unpleasant experiences I’ve had in public life”.
“My opponent lied throughout,” he said. “He was then challenged on his claim to have served ‘in combat’ by an 11-tour veteran, which he could not stand up,” Mr Mercer wrote.
“I cannot believe I am standing against a real life Walter Mitty in Plymouth. If there is one place you don’t want to lie about your military service, it is this city.
“Veterans in the room – including one who was sunk in the Falklands – erupted and started to walk out. The hustings [were] ended.”
Given that a chief constable has just been sacked for similar dishonest claims I suspect blind trust is a bit lacking.
Sussex Police wrote:A dangerous motorcyclist who was seen riding at speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone has been disqualified.
Kieran Jones was recorded on a speed camera on the A22 in Eastbourne Road, Halland, on seven occasions.
He reached as high as 80mph in a 30mph zone, but would conceal his registration plate to avoid detection.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit used a plan and were able to catch and arrest the 24-year-old in February.
At interview, Jones admitted he had been the rider wearing a distinctive helmet in several speeding incidents.
He appeared in court where he admitted dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop, failing to comply with a solid white line road marking, and eight counts of speeding between July last year and February.
Speeding is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
One in three collisions in Sussex is caused by motorists travelling at excess speed above the speed limit.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on March 11, he admitted the charges.
Jones, formerly a landscape gardener of Hornbeam Road, Reigate, was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work as part of a six-month suspended prison sentence.
Sounds like the guy needed bringing to book but IMO the police do themselves no favours bragging about this. They can move heaven and earth to catch a speeding motorcyclist but burglars and other scum seem to be off limits or impossible to catch.
Also seems that the standard of evidence required is a bit lower in this case. CPS often decide to drop charges because the evidence is 'weak', often when most ordinary people would describe it as somewhere between adequate and overwhelming.
Was his helmet really unique, or was it just a bit unusual. My spare helmet might be identical, the CPS don't know.
I realise that fluffy kittens were endangered, but this looks and feels like a vendetta.
Cousin Jack wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:24 am
Also seems that the standard of evidence required is a bit lower in this case. CPS often decide to drop charges because the evidence is 'weak', often when most ordinary people would describe it as somewhere between adequate and overwhelming.
Was his helmet really unique, or was it just a bit unusual. My spare helmet might be identical, the CPS don't know.
I realise that fluffy kittens were endangered, but this looks and feels like a vendetta.
I know that stretch of road and there were probably several complaints about him to the police, it's a residential road through the village and I expect a lot of people heard him. Enough people shouting will get the police and CPS to push anything through to court.
Cousin Jack wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:24 am don't know.
but this looks and feels like a vendetta.
I know that stretch of road and there were probably several complaints about him to the police, it's a residential road through the village and I expect a lot of people heard him.
A mate was stopped one morning heading to work. To be fair to the residents who had complained to police, his Triumph was a tad noisy. Police knew what time he would be passing, so we're there solely to get him.
The most extreme example, though, was a radar speed trap set up solely to get one motorcyclist as he headed to work.
He had often taken the piss out of traffic police riders, saying he could outrun them anytime, they'd be ever get him.
His place of work? The same police station ... Occupation? Beat copper.
BBC wrote:Met denies being source of election bet leaks
So who else knew about both the Downing Street people and the Met officers being referred to the Gambling Commission? Are they accusing the Gambling Commission of the leaks?
Sussex Police wrote:A dangerous motorcyclist who was seen riding at speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone has been disqualified.
Kieran Jones was recorded on a speed camera on the A22 in Eastbourne Road, Halland, on seven occasions.
He reached as high as 80mph in a 30mph zone, but would conceal his registration plate to avoid detection.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit used a plan and were able to catch and arrest the 24-year-old in February.
At interview, Jones admitted he had been the rider wearing a distinctive helmet in several speeding incidents.
He appeared in court where he admitted dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop, failing to comply with a solid white line road marking, and eight counts of speeding between July last year and February.
Speeding is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.
One in three collisions in Sussex is caused by motorists travelling at excess speed above the speed limit.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on March 11, he admitted the charges.
Jones, formerly a landscape gardener of Hornbeam Road, Reigate, was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work as part of a six-month suspended prison sentence.
So, "dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop, failing to comply with a solid white line road marking, and eight counts of speeding" but he wasn't charged with "conceal[ing] his registration plate to avoid detection". I wonder why. Surely there's a law against taking the piss out of the law?
BBC wrote:Met denies being source of election bet leaks
So who else knew about both the Downing Street people and the Met officers being referred to the Gambling Commission? Are they accusing the Gambling Commission of the leaks?
Cousin Jack wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:24 am
Also seems that the standard of evidence required is a bit lower in this case. CPS often decide to drop charges because the evidence is 'weak', often when most ordinary people would describe it as somewhere between adequate and overwhelming.
Was his helmet really unique, or was it just a bit unusual. My spare helmet might be identical, the CPS don't know.
I realise that fluffy kittens were endangered, but this looks and feels like a vendetta.
Really? 80mph through a 30 on what seems to be a regular basis? I think twats like that need a break from riding a bike. I know I RLAT on occasion (moreso when I was over there) but 30's and 50's we did 30 and 50 (also did 20 in the few 20's that were near me in Bristol at the time).
But TBH - anyone daft/stupid/arrogant enough to do 80 through a village that's marked as a 30 deserve the book thrown. Can't really understand why it's a vendetta to stop someone actually being very dangerous?
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 12:35 pm
If you're gonna conceal your number plate but wear a distinctive helmet you need punishing just for being dim.
When I had the pink blackbird I knew I had to be a bit careful - not like I could say "wasn't me officer, must have been another pink Blackbird"
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!!
