Johnson praises rebel MP’S ‘fight and passion’

BORIS JOHNSON has praised a backbench Conservative MP who branded the Government a “s--- show”, claiming the party was “fortunate” to have him.

Rallying behind Johnny Mercer, a member of the defence select committee and a former army officer, Mr Johnson said that the party needed more MPS with his “passion and determination”.

His intervention came after Mr Mercer issued a scathing assessment of Theresa May’s administration and admitted he would not vote for the Conservatives if he was not an MP.

In an interview with The House magazine, Mr Mercer, a Remainer, dismissed the Prime Minister’s Chequers deal as a “classic professional politician’s answer” and warned he was one of several moderate MPS prepared to “kick up a stink” if she did not change course on Brexit.

He added that if Mrs May offered him a ministerial role, he would refuse it and that he was more comfortable under David Cameron’s leadership.

Separately, Mr Mercer was last night embroiled in a row with a member of the public who suggested his wife was a “prostitute”.

The controversy erupted after the MP for Plymouth Moor View confronted a social media user called Stephen Knight, warning that he would give him “one chance” to admit making the remarks.

Last night, Mr Mercer told The Daily Telegraph that he was “sick of people treating MPS like s---”. It is understood that Mr Mercer decided to speak out against Mrs May’s Government due to his mounting frustrations over an inquiry into historic allegations against Northern Ireland veterans, which he condemned as a “cowards’ charter”.

While his explosive interview has sent shock waves around Whitehall, Mrs May yesterday refused to criticise him, with her official spokesman declining to comment.

But in comments that will be seen as a deliberate provocation of the Prime Minister, Mr Johnson yesterday gave his full backing to Mr Mercer.

Applauding his campaign to end the “witch-hunt” inquiry into veterans accused of historic killings in Northern Ireland, Mr Johnson added that “his fight” demonstrated “why we need more [MPS] like him”.

“The Conservative Party is fortunate to have MPS with the passion and determination of Johnny Mercer,” he said.

It comes two weeks after Mr Mercer, who has formed a close alliance with Mr Johnson in recent months, hit out at colleagues attacking the former foreign secretary over his Brexit plan to “chuck” Chequers and pursue a “Super Canada Plus” trade deal with the EU.

He added that many MPS who “castigate” Mr Johnson had happily accepted donations raised by him on their behalf, adding that rather than “sneering” they should “harness” his “inarguable power” to win the next election.

The pair’s friendship has given rise to speculation that Mr Mercer could become a key ally for Mr Johnson if he launches a leadership challenge.