Editing Patrick Mercer

{{Short description|British Army officer.  historian, politician (born 1956)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = 
| name             = Patrick Mercer
| honorific-suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| office           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|Newark]]
| parliament       = 
| term_start       = 7 June 2001
| term_end         = 30 April 2014
| majority         = 16,152 (31.5%)
| predecessor      = [[Fiona Jones]]
| successor        = [[Robert Jenrick]]
| birth_name       = Patrick John Mercer
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1956|6|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Stockport, Cheshire]], England
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| spouse           = Cait Mercer
| party            = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| otherparty       = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (until 2013)
| alma_mater       = [[Exeter College, Oxford]]<br />[[Cranfield University]]
| allegiance       = United Kingdom
| branch           = [[British Army]]
| serviceyears     = 1975–1999
| rank             = [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]]
| unit             = [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]]
}}
'''Patrick John Mercer''' {{postnom|country=GBR|OBE}} (born 26 June 1956) is a British author and former politician.<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN05324/living-former-mps List of former living MPs]</ref> He was elected as a Conservative in the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], until resigning the party's parliamentary whip in May 2013 following questions surrounding paid advocacy, and was an [[Independent MP]] representing the constituency of [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|Newark]] in [[British House of Commons|Parliament]] until his resignation at the end of April 2014 when a [[Standards Committee]] report recommended suspending him for six months for "sustained and pervasive breach of the house's rules".<ref>{{cite news|last=Newell |first=Claire |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10091179/Patrick-Mercer-MP-resigns-over-lobbying-scandal.html |title=Patrick Mercer MP resigns over lobbying scandal |newspaper=Telegraph |date= 31 May 2013|access-date=31 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref> He was [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] shadow [[homeland security]] minister from 2003 to 2007, when [[David Cameron]] forced him to resign after he had made remarks about racism which Cameron found unacceptable.<ref name=BBC2007/>

Mercer is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues, having served as a colonel in the [[British Army]] and as a BBC journalist. He has to date written four military novels and is a patron of the Victoria Cross Trust.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriacrosstrust.org |title=Victoria Cross Trust |publisher=Victoria Cross Trust |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Born in Stockport in Cheshire in 1956, Mercer is the son of [[Eric Mercer]], who became [[Bishop of Exeter]]. His mother was born in Lincolnshire and his father was trained for the priesthood at Kelham Theological College near Newark.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1488403.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310212942/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1488403.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2007 |title=''The Times'' Profile of Patrick Mercer 2007 |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

Mercer was educated at [[The King's School, Chester]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |title=The Conservative Party &#124; People &#124; Members of Parliament &#124; Patrick Mercer OBE MP |publisher=Conservatives.com |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103052118/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |archive-date=3 January 2013 }}</ref> and [[Exeter College, Oxford]], where he read history. He was later commissioned after training at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |title=Conservative Party Profile: Patrick Mercer |publisher=Conservatives.com |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103052118/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Mercer_Patrick.aspx |archive-date=3 January 2013 }}</ref> Whilst there, he was one of a number of cadets interviewed for an edition of the BBC's ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' programme.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00kfytm Panorama: Sandhurst]'', BBC, transmitted 15 September 1975</ref>

==British Army career==
Mercer followed his father, who saw wartime service in the [[Sherwood Foresters]] (Notts & Derby Regiment), into the British Army. He was commissioned into the [[Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment]] on 8 March 1975 as a [[second lieutenant]]. His [[service number]] was 499748.<ref name="LG 22 April 1975">{{London Gazette|issue=46551|date=22 April 1975|pages=5161 |supp=y }}</ref> On 8 March 1977, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]].<ref name="LG 7 March 1977">{{London Gazette |issue=47166 |date=7 March 1977 |page=3221 |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 8 September 1981,<ref name="LG 14 September 1981">{{London Gazette |issue=48734|date=14 September 1981|page=11685 |supp=y }}</ref> and to [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] on 30 September 1988.<ref name="LG 3 October 1988">{{London Gazette |issue=51488|date=3 October 1988|pages=11089|supp=y}}</ref> On 30 June 1994, he was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]],<ref name="LG 4 July 1994">{{London Gazette |issue=53724|date=4 July 1994|pages=9606|supp=y}}</ref> then to [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] on 30 June 1998.<ref name="LG 29 June 1998">{{London Gazette|issue=55181|date=29 June 1998|page=7122|supp=y}}</ref>

During his time in the Army, Mercer completed nine tours in Northern Ireland and latterly commanded his battalion in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], Canada and [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]]. Mercer served at both the [[Staff College, Camberley]], and the Army's [[Cranfield University|University]] at [[Cranfield]].

Mercer was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] in 1983 for "gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1 November 1982 to 31 January 1983".<ref name="LG 20 June 1983">{{London Gazette|issue=49393|date=20 June 1983|page=8198|supp=y}}</ref> He earned a gallantry commendation in 1990. He was made an [[Member of the Order of the British Empire|MBE]] on 12 October 1993 "in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland".<ref name="LG 11 October 1993">{{London Gazette|issue=53453|date=11 October 1993|page=16387|supp=y}}</ref> He was made an [[Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|OBE]] on 13 May 1997 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 21 June to 20 December 1996".<ref name="LG 13 May 1997">{{London Gazette|issue=54763|date=13 May 1997|pages=5627|supp=y}}</ref> He left the Army in 1999 as a colonel, He retired from the army on 1 September 1999,<ref name="LG 14 September 1999">{{London Gazette|issue=55609|date=14 September 1999|page=9833|supp=y}}</ref> his last posting having been as head of communications and strategy at the Army Training and Recruiting Agency.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Journalism==
After leaving the Army, Mercer was a defence reporter for [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'' programme.<ref>Justin Parkinson, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27202749.amp "Profile: Patrick Mercer"], BBC News, 29 April 2014</ref> He reported from trouble spots,  including [[Kosovo]].

On being selected as Conservative candidate in Newark, Mercer left the BBC and became a freelance journalist writing for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. He continued to contribute to radio, television, and print media, mainly on security and defence issues, and in ''[[The House (magazine)|The House magazine]]'' in 2009 his profession was stated as Journalist.<ref>"PATRICK MERCER Newark Conservative: Profession Journalist" in ''The House Magazine: The Parliamentary Weekly'', Volume 34, Issues 1298–1305 (2009), p. 46</ref>

==Political career==
===Parliament from 2001===
Mercer was first elected to Parliament as the member for [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|Newark]] at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], defeating the Labour incumbent, [[Fiona Jones]], overturning a majority of 3,000 and creating a majority of just over 4,000. In the Commons, he initially served as a back-bencher on the [[Defence Select Committee]] before becoming [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the Shadow [[Secretary of State for Defence]]. Mercer backed [[Iain Duncan Smith]] over [[Kenneth Clarke]] in the [[2001 Conservative leadership election]]. Subsequently, he was appointed to a newly created post of [[Shadow Minister]] for Homeland Security in June 2003 after Duncan Smith became Conservative leader.

In 2004 he introduced a Private Member's Bill in response to the publicity surrounding the case of [[Tony Martin (farmer)|Tony Martin]] that proposed to give householders greater powers when protecting their property from burglary.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kite |first=Melissa |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1479776/Tories-launch-Bill-to-give-householders-the-power-to-tackle-intruders.html |title=Private Members Householders Protection Bill 2004 |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=26 December 2004 |access-date=31 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref>

Mercer increased his majority in Newark to 6,464 at the 2005 general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/1150/newark |title=Newark: Constituency &#124; Politics |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 March 2013 |access-date=31 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref>

===Parliament from 2005===
During the Conservative leadership contest which followed the 2005 election, Mercer publicly backed [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]] over [[David Cameron]], [[Kenneth Clarke]], and [[Liam Fox]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/toryleadership/who_is_backing_who/ |title=Who backs who in Conservative leadership election 2005 |publisher=Conservativehome.blogs.com |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

Since 2005, he has repeatedly warned against the imposition of [[control order]]s as being 'counter productive'. Citing his experience of [[internment in Northern Ireland]], as a serving soldier, he highlighted the danger of alienating populations needed for intelligence gathering.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9150106.stm |title=BBC Newsnight, Control Orders 2 November 2010 |work=BBC News |date=2 November 2010 |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

In March 2007, Mercer gave an interview to ''[[The Times]]'' in which he talked about "idle and useless" ethnic minority soldiers who had used racism as a "cover" and admitted that black soldiers in his regiment had been referred to as "black bastard" and "[[nigger]]".<ref name=BBC2007/> Initially, the Conservative Party stated that the comments were a "private matter",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2007/03/08/cameron-drops-mercer-over-race-row |title=Patrick Mercer resigns and apologises |work=Politics.co.uk |date=8 March 2007 |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> but soon David Cameron forced Mercer to resign as Shadow Minister for Homeland Security.<ref name=BBC2007/> Mercer publicly apologised and said "I had the privilege to command soldiers from across the east Midlands, of whom many came from racial minorities. It was a matter of great pride to me that racial minorities prospered inside the unit. What I have said is clearly misjudged and I can only apologise if I have embarrassed in any way those fine men whom I commanded. I have no hesitation in resigning my front-bench appointment."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1544893/Tories-sack-MP-who-attacked-idle-black-troops.html |title=Tories sack MP who attacked 'idle' black troops |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph]]|date=8 March 2007 |access-date=2 June 2013 |location=London |first=Sally |last=Peck}}</ref> A black former corporal who had served with Mercer came to his defence, and the chairwoman of his Conservative Association said she was "extremely angry" that Mercer's comments had been taken out of context.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cash for questions: Patrick Mercer no stranger to controversy|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10092624/Cash-for-questions-Patrick-Mercer-no-stranger-to-controversy.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=7 August 2013|location=London|first1=Holly|last1=Watt|first2=Claire|last2=Newell|date=31 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=BBC2007>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6431005.stm |title=Top Tory axed over Army race row|work=BBC News|date=8 March 2007| access-date= 6 June 2010}}</ref>

In December 2008, Mercer was appointed as Chairman of the House of Commons Sub-Committee on Counter-Terrorism, to further his work as a member of the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

In March 2009 Mercer volunteered for three days at a charity named Save the Family, learning and helping displaced families as part of a programme devised by Iain Duncan Smith.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/press-releases/patrick-mercer-mp-to-work-with-homeless-families-at-save-the-family-flintshire-17-19-march-2009 |title=Patrick Mercer MP to work with homeless families at Save the Family, Flintshire 17–19 March 2009 |publisher=The Centre for Social Justice |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref>

===Parliament from 2010===
At the 2010 general election, Mercer more than doubled his majority to 16,152, to make Newark one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. In August 2010, based on intelligence from serving army officers, he warned that dissident Irish terror groups could be planning to attack the party conferences, including the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/7958477/Republican-dissidents-to-target-Tory-conference.html |title=Republican dissidents 'to target Tory conference'|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 August 2010 |access-date=31 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref>

In May 2011, Mercer was appointed with [[Lord Ashcroft]] to review the future of the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|military bases in Cyprus]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13526211 |title=Cyprus military bases' review 2011 |work=BBC News |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

In August 2011, Mercer with his knowledge of Northern Ireland, led the calls for considering the use of water cannon and other robust police tactics to deal with the rioters during the [[2011 England riots]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Stephen Bates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/theresa-may-water-cannon-riots |title=Patrick Mercer calls for water cannon 9 August 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 9 August 2011|access-date=31 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The next day David Cameron approved the use of water cannon after chairing a session of the [[Cabinet Office Briefing Room]], Cobra.<ref>{{cite news|last=Porter |first=Andrew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8692996/London-riots-David-Cameron-approves-water-cannon.html |title=Cameron approves water cannon 10 August 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 August 2011 |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

In October 2011, Mercer supported a failed bid by the Everyday Champions Church to open a free school in his constituency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secularism.org.uk/creationist-church-remains-resol.html |title=Creationist church remains resolute in pursuit of free school 21 October 2011 |publisher=Secularism.org.uk |date=21 October 2011 |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref> The bid was rejected because of concerns over the church's explicitly [[creationist]] stance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6069260 |title=Evangelicals' free school would include creationism on science curriculum 12 September 2011 |work=Tes.co.uk |access-date=31 May 2013}}</ref>

In November 2011, the press reported that Mercer had been taped making disparaging remarks about David Cameron, calling him "despicable" and describing him as an "arse" and "the worst politician in British history since [[William Gladstone]]". The same articles claimed he had predicted that Cameron would be ousted by Conservative MPs in early 2012.  Mercer later denied making the comments.<ref name=tapedattack>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/8886745/Tory-MP-in-row-over-taped-attack-on-David-Cameron.html|title=Tory MP in row over 'taped attack' on David Cameron|author= [[Patrick Hennessy (journalist)|Patrick Hennessy]]|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=13 November 2011|access-date=13 November 2011|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/nov/13/tory-mp-cameron-ousted-spring|title=Tory MP 'secretly taped claiming Cameron will be ousted in spring'|author=Press Association"|newspaper=The Guardian|date=13 November 2011|access-date=13 November 2011|location=London}}</ref>

===Resignation===
Mercer resigned the [[Conservative Party whip]] on 31 May 2013 following an investigation by  ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' and BBC's ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' caught him on camera accepting payment for [[lobbying]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Mercer aftermath: Will PM introduce new lobbying laws?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22745070|work=BBC News|access-date=7 August 2013|date=2 June 2013}}</ref>

In June 2013, less than two weeks after Mercer had resigned the party whip, it was reported that in talking to an undercover reporter he had described a meeting with a young Israeli woman who said she was a soldier.<ref name=Holly-Claire>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10092624/Cash-for-questions-Patrick-Mercer-no-stranger-to-controversy.html|title=Cash for questions: Patrick Mercer no stranger to controversy|author=Holly Watt and Claire Newell|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=31 May 2013|access-date=13 July 2013|location=London}}</ref> He told the reporter he had thought to himself "You don't look like a soldier to me. You look like a bloody Jew".<ref name=Holly-Claire/> He then spoke to ''[[Jewish News]]'' and apologised unreservedly for any offence he had caused to the Jewish community by his  "stupid remark".<ref>"Mercer 'apologises for Jew remark'", ''[[Evening Standard]]'', 12 June 2013</ref>

On 29 April 2014, after seeing a [[Commons Select Committee on Standards]] report into his conduct, due to be published on 1 May, calling for him to be barred from Parliament for six months, Mercer announced he would resign his seat.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27208966 | title=Former Tory MP Mercer resigns after Commons suspension | date=29 April 2014 | work=BBC News | access-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> He was [[Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds|appointed to the Chiltern Hundreds]] the next day, making his resignation effective.<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointments to the Chiltern Hundreds and Manor of Northstead Stewardships since 1880 |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04731/ |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref>

The Commons Standards Committee report on Mercer stated that its members were "not aware of a case relating to a sitting MP which has involved such a sustained and pervasive breach of the house's rules on registration, declaration and paid advocacy."<ref>{{cite news|title=Patrick Mercer made one of worst ever breaches of rules, watchdog finds|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/01/patrick-mercer-tory-mp-worst-ever-breaches-rules|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> It stated that Mercer "had deliberately evaded the rules", including engaging in "paid advocacy" and failing to make "any serious attempt to identify his ultimate clients". He had also failed to register monies received properly; to deposit the contract he signed to provide services; and to declare a relevant interest when tabling parliamentary questions, tabling an [[early-day motion]], making approaches to other MPs, and when speaking at a meeting of the [[All-Party Parliamentary Group]]. Mercer was also criticised for "repeatedly denigrating fellow Members both individually and collectively".<ref name="Committee on Standards"/>

The recommended period of suspension from the House of Commons was the second longest suspension since 1947. ([[Denis MacShane]], later convicted of a criminal offence, was suspended for twelve months in 2012, and also resigned immediately as an MP.) One member voted to expel Mercer as an MP, and another wanted him suspended for eight months.<ref name="Committee on Standards">{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmstandards/1225/1225.pdf|title=Committee on Standards report on Patrick Mercer|publisher=House of Commons|date=1 May 2014|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref>

A [[by-election]] for the vacant Newark seat was held on 5 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27705671|title=Voters to go to polls in Newark by-election|work=BBC News|date=5 June 2014|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>

==Publications==
*{{cite book
  | title     = Inkerman, 1854: The Soldier's Battle
  | last      = Mercer
  | first     = Patrick
  | isbn      = 978-1-85532-618-7
  | year      = 1998
  | publisher = Osprey
}}
*{{cite book
  | title     = Give Them A Volley And Charge!: Battle of Inkerman
  | last      = Mercer
  | first     = Patrick
  | isbn      = 978-1-86227-025-1
  | year      = 1998
  | publisher = Spellmount Publishers Ltd
}}
*{{cite book
  | title     = To Do And Die
  | last      = Mercer
  | first     = Patrick
  | isbn      = 978-0-00-730278-9
  | year      = 2009
  | publisher = Harper Collins
}}
*{{cite book
  | title      = Dust and Steel
  | last       = Mercer
  | first      = Patrick
  | isbn       = 978-0-00-730272-7
  | year       = 2010
  | publisher  = Harper Collins
  | url-access = registration
  | url        = https://archive.org/details/duststeel0000merc
  }}
*{{cite book
  | title      = Red Runs the Helmand
  | last       = Mercer
  | first      = Patrick
  | isbn       = 978-0-00-730275-8
  | year       = 2011
  | publisher  = Harper Collins
  | url-access = registration
  | url        = https://archive.org/details/redrunshelmand0000merc
  }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183640/http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Patrick+Mercer/ ePolitix.com – Patrick Mercer MP]}}
*[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-6020,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask  Aristotle: Patrick Mercer MP]
*[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/patrick_mercer/newark TheyWorkForYou.com – Patrick Mercer MP]
*[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Patrick_Mercer&mpc=Newark The Public Whip – Patrick Mercer MP] voting record
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2122178.stm BBC News – Patrick Mercer] profile 10 February 2005
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120913163624/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/m/21529/Patrick+MERCER.aspx Debrett's biography] Patrick Mercer Esq., O.B.E., M.P. profile
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130328074127/http://crimeanwar.info/2012/05/16/british-mp-will-shoot-the-movie-about-crimean-war/ British MP will shoot the movie about Crimean War]

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{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
  | before=[[Fiona Jones]]
  | title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Newark (UK Parliament constituency)|Newark]]
  | years=[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]–[[2014 Newark by-election|2014]]
  | after=[[Robert Jenrick]]
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, Patrick}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]
[[Category:British Army colonels]]
[[Category:Academics of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Manchester]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at The King's School, Chester]]
[[Category:Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Stockport]]
[[Category:British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–2005]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment officers]]